I can feel it
here
coiled around my insides
shaking my heart
winding through my intestines
pressed against my bowels
this viper’s fangs
have been sunk
driven home
pumping venom into my blood
poisoning my flesh and thoughts
we may laugh and smile
but inside it’s corrosion eats
my confidence and hope
never loosening its grip
a time sprung trap
latched into place
I can feel it’s ticking pulse against mine
a wild animal caught
bleeding out
this snake found it’s way inside
when I opened myself
allowed another to inhabit me
without fear nor hesitation
I have opened myself once again
there, you can see it’s scales
feel it slide against my organs
slick with my corrupted blood
I want you to live here
make me your shelter
bury your fingers into my heart
wind your mind around mine
displace this serpent
evict this fear from my being
cast out this doubt
shine your love onto my face
free me from the long shadows of the past
bask with me in the sun