anti venom

I don't know this just popped into my head

He was slippery
ill but he had a
grip,

I tried to escape
many times
but he
captured me
with that forked
tongue
and a
velvet smile,

it never lasted,
he always
bit.

I spent my days
puffy,
filled with poison
resigned myself
to a
slow and painful
rigor
settling in
before death.

I searched for
anti venom
on strangers' lips
and there it
was,
your kiss.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Anne Timmins]

Surprisingly coherent and steady theme throughout, a very pleasing change. You seem to be improving in your delivery. This is probably my favourite poem of yours, thus far! I most enjoyed the metaphoric play you employ within the lines.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks. I write what I write, when I write it. I have poems on here from as far back as 83. Some are better than others, it is the nature of the beast.

[Lydia Shutter]

Searching for anti-venom on strangers's lips....what a great concept. The metaphor is excellent here. Many wives and many husbands cheat just to get away from toxic relationships. You said it well here. Lydi**

[Lyn Anderson]

Thank you, I appreciate the review, and the sentiment.

[Delmar Cooper]

That last stanza is a really good piece of work. The sense of it is good, which impresses me when I see it in your work, but the sound is the Thing in this stanza. I think it is the assonance you acheive with the vowel "i".

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks so much, my sweet. It is always a pleasure to see you, but I don't know about that tree, at least put one up with leaves on ...:)

[Lyn Anderson]

I re-read your review, and I re-read my poem. I wish I could say it's conscious, but it wasn't. I just like the way it flowed. But you are exactly right, thank you.

[NoelHC]

There is a certain je ne sais quoi to this work, almost hopeless, desperate, abandon all hope ye who enter here quality, and then in the last two words that is all banished. One of your better ones, for it just having "popped" into your head.

[Lyn Anderson]

Well thanks, I appreciate that. I like those random thoughts that just pass through. If I catch them, they are usually gold.

[Frieda P]

Bittersweet, amazing what a kiss can do for a woman's psyche.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks, yes, I agree. It is amazing.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A kiss, I wondered where the slippery was going!?

[Lyn Anderson]

ha ha, I wasn't thinking like that at all ...:)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No? No not you 'M'! Not at all! No thought of blinding sex at all!

[Lyn Anderson]

Who me? Are you accusing me of having a dirty mind?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

She who has a dirty mind is a dirty dog! Yes you!

[Lyn Anderson]

I am just an innocent little p***y.:)

[Frieda P]

She's the p***y, you must be the dog John haha

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Never known an innocent p***y and Frieda I know where you 'stand'!

[Frieda P]

You're hanging around with the wrong p*****s than John!

[Lyn Anderson]

I wrote one just for you John.

[Frieda P]

I don't think he can handle you KL, he logged out. ;)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No I went for some air my Lady!

[Frieda P]

Ha it was that bad you needed air....?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Wow! a magnificent precee of your life in a few short verses with such an apt analogy. So much feeling in such few words!

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks. I appreciate it. Who would have thought, Irish anti venom ...:)