With the speared nub
of his unopened umbrella,
the man stabs
at the snake’s taut stalk
of a body.
Invisible hands,
invisible arms, invisible feet,
the snake rises up
straight in response.
Between the trees
late morning wads
of sunshine douse
both man and snake in light.
The umbrella’s handle
is dark brown, custom-made.
O how the abandoned
abandon
the abandoned
abandon the abandoned.
The snake is very real
and very alert.
Watch.