The Viper's Song

With the advent of evening, car-wreck splattered red,
I face the thought of being torn from you. What do
You know? I never told you of my love. I lingered.
Wasn't that enough? I stared into your depthless
Eyes, and asked you, innocently, surely innocently,
How the man you say that you will marry plans
To make a lovely life for you. He'll do his best.
I guess he will, and, even if he falters, can he
Fail, as I must do for you, a ruined man, who's
Made of lies, who's tried, but never stood a chance
Of chasing him from his appointed place, to place
Myself, however briefly, where he once had been,
And, then, to slither, as I do, a viper, saying, “Have
An apple. All is well,” as all is hell, and, if you'd
Let me kiss you, I would slide to where I have to
Go, and you would see your lover leave, and I
Would be where you would never find me. You
Are better off to do as I know you will do:
You'll smile sweetly, say you're sorry, push
Me to the margins of the life I'd wanted so to
Share, and you will thrive, and I will perish.
You will count the stars with him as I lay
Flattened on a street in car-wreck splattered red.



Poetry by Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 19 times
Written on 2011-12-28 at 01:08

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