The twin snakes draw near, dangling
from each ear. She stalks
her bumpy prey, hungry
for another before day breaks
the dark’s shiny veneer.
Her prey’s camouflage makes his presence
clear. She gently steers his frantic fleeing
hops to the entrée
held in her warm affection.
She scoops him up, smiling
like a rocketeer witnessing Apollo 11.
Our astronaut sits in a sphere
of skin; perhaps he silently prays
to be set free, or is wishing to stay.
I freeze it in time; content to be here
in her warm affection.
Nathan DeBar is a poet and short fiction writer from rural Leakesville, Mississippi. His relationship to frogs is mostly done through his lovely wife, Josephine, who always finds joy with the little things in life. His published work can be found at his Linktree and Instagram, both @Nate.debar.