You Know the Split-tongued Pike

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

The older, ugly one has found a way

To corner him beside him on the seat

Inside his car.  He wants this boy to say

A thing to the man can use to win his feat,

For him to have the blond and blue-eyed boy

(As everyone would do if they could swing

The chance).  They think that such a pretty toy

Would give them pleasure with an angel wing,

A cobra angel’s wing, white ringed on black

There on a car seat in this instance or

Perhaps inside the dairy shed out back.

Two slits of tongue would search for hot gold ore.

  They know the path.  They want to find their thrill

    And do not care for innocence they kill.

[Choose one of the two AI images below as the better one.  Thanks.]

©  Phillip Whidden