On the summer road that ran by our front porch <br /> Lizards and snakes came out to sun. <br />It was hot as a stove out there, enough to scorch <br /> A buzzard's foot. Still, it was fun <br />To lie in the dust and spy on them. Near but remote, <br /> They snoozed in the carriage ruts, a smile <br />In the set of the jaw, a fierce pulse in the throat <br />Working away like Jack Doyle's after he'd run the mile. <br /> <br />Aunt Martha had an unfair prejudice <br /> Against them (as well as being cold <br />Toward bats.) She was pretty inflexible in this, <br /> Being a spinster and all, and old. <br />So we used to slip them into her knitting box. <br /> In the evening she'd bring in things to mend <br />And a nice surprise would slide out from under the socks. <br />It broadened her life, as Joe said. Joe was my friend. <br /> <br />But we never did it again after the day <br /> Of the big wind when you could hear the trees <br />Creak like rocking chairs. She was looking away <br /> Off, and kept saying, "Sweet Jesus, please <br />Don't let him near me. He's as like as twins. <br /> He can crack us like lice with his fingernail. <br />I can see him plain as a pikestaff. Look how he grins <br />And swings the scaly horror of his folded tail."<br /><br />Anthony Evan Hecht<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/lizards-and-snakes/
