“Sidewinder Days” by Abigail Byrd-Stapleton

harm            less,      he’s

completely     harm     less

                                               the way

his eyes windround me

                  side-slented and

shameless

happens 

to us                  sometimes

too

—this should not feel

like meat without the need 

of hunger,

like labor without reprieve

if you want,

one of us      could—

take the bite, you mean,

his eyes like

dares hooking under my skin

comes in

once a week

prey is a thing;

a docile housewife,

a gutted mouse

stays,

eats.

   Is there a venom

more vicious

than silence?

what’s there to say?

enough

enough

enough

About Abigail Byrd-Stapleton
She/Her/Hers

Abigail Byrd-Stapleton is an artist and poet from Paintsville, Kentucky. She currently lives in rural Missouri with her spouse and small zoo of pets, but enjoys traveling throughout the sprawling West when given the chance. You can check out her work at https://abigailcbyrd.wixsite.com/writing or follow her on Instagram @Abigail_not_abbi.