The Constrictor
I sat reading
turning the pages in a quiet room
behind me
a bank of houseplants bloomed
and something else—
intent and beady-eyed—
watched the motion of my hand
“Mir,” you said softly
“Don’t look
behind you, just
get up, and so
don’t ask, just go”
you caught the snake
that had escaped
its glass aquarium
a shimmering boa
with pale blue scales
hueing the rainbow…
at the time
I was annoyed, amused, relieved
you caught it
but also
the problem was yours
in the old apartment
with leaky windows and swollen doors
where once a small wild
garden snake
also set up residence
that was what,
almost forty years ago,
the town has changed
snakes given away
you long dead
and I gone on
to read
other books
Miriam's Well: Poetry, Land Art, and Beyond 
is that a true story? I think I would drop dead right then and there!
Yes–true. I don’t think I could make it up! Well, I had many encounters with snakes when I was married to a man who loved them.
Aaaaaahhhhh!
I love this poem… the mood, meandering, surprises and on to new books. It evokes happiness in me. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! As you know, like you I’ve been thinking about animal poems. I was telling a class this story and then realized I could write it!