snakeville

she's wary of snakes
in her yard,
singing loudly to scare
them away,
using the end of a broom
to walk her way
through, swinging
it to and fro.
stepping lightly
through the weeds
and tall grass.
black snakes
and copperheads
are everywhere, under
the steps,
in folds of soft dirt
and trees gone
down from last
winters storm.
she pulls up her boots,
and gingerly
steps to the gravel
driveway where she
hops into her old car
to drive away.
it's a long summer
with a yard
full of snakes.