All Text, Music, and Illustrations, including Paintings, Photographs, and 3D models, Copyright © 2022 by Jim Robbins.
POEMS OF CHILDHOOD: A SUITE
No Proof
I tossed a rock
Into a lush backwash
From a high ledge,
The splash
Pushing striders,
Lighter than water,
Out of their refuge.
In a moment, they
Returned, seemingly
Unperturbed
By the explosion—
The rocks bigger, my fervor
Ever greater as I kept
Missing the mark.
The striders finally
Vanished, all
At once, and I felt
Mean for ruining
An ancient, pristine order.
I climbed back down
The cliff, hoping
The striders would return.
As I stepped out
Onto slippery stones,
A black snake
Slithered toward me
On top of the water,
Its body suddenly
Whipping around rocks,
Quick as a dipper.
I swayed slightly,
Curious, incredulous—
In seconds the snake
Lunged at my chest.
As it flew toward me,
I held up my hand, palm
Open, the front of its fangs
Hitting flat life lines;
It tumbled back
Into the river and slid off,
Surprised that it had not
Hooked into flesh—
Then between stones
It vanished
As liquid as ripples,
Leaving me unable to prove
That I had been attacked
By a fierce guardian
Of the river....
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