the snake

you saw the snake
in front of you
crossing the paved
path. the slow
heavy drag
of a roped life,
stitched in a quilt
of browns and black,
it's tongue slipping
in and out of its
pointed face
when it stopped
to see who made
this shadow across his
back. you stood
still and let it go,
disappearing into
the brush,
but having touched
your day enough to wonder
what others things
are crawling
in the shadows of
your life.