Snake

Shimmy and stretch, a tear echoes in the dark.
Naked she stands, surrounded by honesty.
A woman reborn, complete with fragility.
She’s defenseless to hurt, but for her warrior’s spirit
and her wild hair that hides her dancing eyes.
She picks up her old skin
with its old scars and stretch marks
It drops behind her, forgotten forever
for she’s outgrown it again
Her new skin glistens with life yet to live
It catches her eye and she watches it absorbing the light
chasing away the darkness and pain of rebirth
Her limbs move with fluidity,
denying their humanity.
She is new, she is warm, she is hungry
and no food can fill the ache she feels
for now she must feed on life
or her new skin shall grow faint
In the future, wrapped in darkness, this skin shall fall
and be left behind for someone to find
A reminder of what used to be, and a promise of never again.

-SRD 11/12/99
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