Poet Jeffery Beam
Poems

Snake in Autumn

I could have stood there
                                                 until
              the creek dried up.
Coiling
              and uncoiling. I
was that happy and that
                                                 terrified.

              The snake silent.

The coiling and uncoiling.
                                                 Silent.
Both blessed and troubled—
                                                 I
radiant in my
                            red and blue heats
                            before him.

The yellow came from him.
                            A golden mesmerizing eye.
Between us
                            the creek flowing.
Coiling and un-
                            coiling.