the sedge-meadow

 

the sedge-meadow

is silent all morning,

its snakes are silent

as they pass through

the blue-green blades.

 

varigated and drawn,

it is hard to tell

the garter from the grass,

the viper from brown leaves,

or to notice the cottonmouth's

movement at the stream's edge.

 

so many are moving that

they are a still mass;

the grass is still, and yet

it moves, imperceptibly;

they are all a-beat as hearts,

as pulsing jugulars protruding.