Willie's Kisses

Willie’s been kissing snakes again.

Late on these burning desert afternoons

You'll see him sneaking out to the flat rocks

Where they doze belly down.

You could fry an egg on those rocks

But Willie and the snakes don't mind.

He comes creeping up from behind

Then lifts those hard eyed ribbon banded reptiles

Up to his crusty lips

And plants a smacker right on their armored heads

Before they know what hit them.

He’s out here practicing again

For when the circus comes around

And the people from those reality shows

Start burning up his phone with calls.

Got to be ready for the cameras

And the book deals and the fame.

It'll happen he knows it

Just got to keep on doing the thing

That nobody else can do.

So far so good.

No rattlers yet

As long as he stays sober.

Behind the Scenes: This little piece first appeared in the LA literary journal Saturday Afternoon, as part of a larger series of poems and microfictions about weird and surreal things. It might be a sort of companion piece to "Glitter Girl," about strange happenings deep in the desert.