As a snake newly shed, 
wet and glistening and ready 
to be pricked by hawk’s talon, 
your body slithers along mine. 
Dripping poison by the Nile’s tides, 
perfectly positioned to penetrate, 
your pointed fangs are sharp pearls 
I covet to adorn my neck and breast — 
Beast! Anubis would envy your ease 
of transformation to jackal 
hunger above viper strike. 

I curl my fingers into you 
of shaggy mane, warm 
epidermal scales; loose my skin 
and lose my will willingly 
to the mounting pleasure 
over my head. 

This poem and others can now be found in the 2023 Valentine’s Day anthology Smitten, published by QuillKeepers Press! Buy it here