Python / Escape are headed over to “dVerse Poets Pub” night tonight at http://www.dversepoets.com
“Python” was inspired by the line “tell me about despair” in the poem “Wild Geese” by Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Mary Oliver. I was inspired by that particular line, as well as her use of flowers or animals in her poetry titles/content.
Creative writing instructor/poet, Reinekke Lengelle suggested that I write a response to “Python”, thus “Escape” came several months later. For those who do not know Sheri-D Wilson, she is a published poet, spoken word artist, and writing instructor. Check her out at http://www.sheridwilson.com
I.
Python
The serpent lurks.
Harmless when
hidden among the tall fragrant grass
blades moving slightly
from the whisper of a breeze.
Waits patiently
for opportunity to strike
not suddenly,
but effortlessly,
coiling lazily,
moving upward
wrapping fourteen feet
of tourniquet body
around my soul,
tightening with each pass,
constricting,
compressing.
The vise grip of despair
holds me first, then
swallows me whole.
II.
Escape
Utter darkness,
nothing but the slimy
disgusting insides
of the snake
waiting to digest me.
I think of the bumper sticker “WWJD?”
“What would Jesus do?”
But then instead I think:
“What would Sheri-D do?”
Poet, warrior, goddess.
She’d slay this situation with her tongue,
Or pull an emerald embellished
pewter handled blade out
from her imagination,
slicing open the snake skin
with a sudden jabbing thrust,
then a long slide down,
freeing her body, mind, spirit
along with her voice
Copyright Suzanne Wood 2013.
wanton word flirt 
nice…felt the tightening in the first one…that snake def lurks if we let it…love how you use what was given you in the second….whip out that pen and write yourself out of it creatively…smiles….cool pair…glad you added the second one…
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Thanks for stopping by Brian, appreciate your feedback. I had a quick look at your site; loving your work, will definitely be back to read more! Off to writers group get-together shortly, for more motivation and inspiration. 🙂
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I loved both of these–especially the second one–Very nice!!
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Glad you enjoyed my poems Audrey. Thank you so much for stopping by, I really appreciate it! Looking forward to checking out your blog. 🙂
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oh heck…already inside that snake the escape is even more difficult…glad you made it..and love the message in this that even if we fell already, it’s not too late to get up and change things
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Now that’s what I have been waiting for, original wanton words flowing! I must say you are getting the hang of this. I’ll have to come for classes one day :).
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Classes? You crack me up girl!! 😀
I will post more poems as time goes by….this was one poem I knew I definitely would not be making new and improved, so was ready to post. Thanks again for encouraging me to blog, it is fun, the writers here amazing.
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the first was good; I could picture the snake wrapped around you squeezing…. But the response, that was quite a fun read.
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Thanks for stopping by, glad you enjoyed my “escape”! lol I just read some of your poetry. Well done! I also visited your youtube poems Lost & Awakening – the road ahead, which I also enjoyed. I really like the sound of your voice (it is soothing) and hearing the poetry read aloud. A writing instructor recently suggested that I do some youtube poetry readings as well. I am not very technically proficient, so not sure how many hours it might take me to learn how to do one. 😦 Is it easy? time consuming?
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