VICTORIA RAMSAY
Constrictor
Why did you bring that boa constrictor home?
I keep my distance even when it smiles.
Elastic, it bends around the grillwork, your waist, my fear,
now it’s taken over, I crouch, despising, by the gate.I keep my distance even when it smiles.
You say a reptile must be made to feel its worth.
Now it’s taken over I crouch, despising, by the gate,
while you stroke the boa’s paisley folds.You say a reptile must be made to feel its worth
that scales are more a thumb print than a glove.
While you stroke the boa’s languid folds
I steel myself, sharp-beaked and frantic in my rage.Scales are more a thumb print than a glove.
Like a bird that steals a twig to line a nest,
I steel myself, sharp-toothed and frantic in my rage –
terrified at sundown, I slip a key into the lock.Like a bird that stole a twig to line its nest.
Silent, spring-coiled embroidery in my bed.
Terrified at sundown I put a key inside the lock –
a cold black eye patrols the no-go zone.Silent spring-coiled embroidery in my bed,
a seamless glove that reached into my territory.
A cold black eye patrols the no-go zone.
My trembling hand seizes its paisley neck.A seamless glove that reached into my territory,
eye to eye, like rope, we tangle, out-stare.
My trembling hand seizes its paisley neck
now proud, I rise above your hulkeye to eye, like rope, we tangle, out-stare.
Elastic, it bends around the grillwork, my waist, your fear.
Now proud, I rise above your hulk.
Why did you bring that boa constrictor home?