Out across a parched, sandy desert

A lone rattler condemned

Crawls on its belly

Waiting for a victim to pass.

No tempting red juicy apples

No lipsticked Eve to seduce

Just dry barren desert of sand

Hopelessness as far as the eye can see.

But Look!

Look to the shimmering horizon.

Coming with beauty and grace

Is it mirage or is it Truth.

Her hair shining golden in the sun

Sparkling diamonds in her eyes

Ruby red lips looking for a kiss

Naked body, perfectly pleasing the eye.

Except

Except

Except for the scar

Where the sword pierced her side.

The green was coming with her

Grass, flowers, and budding trees

Across the desert where she walks.

Birds sing, a brook babbles.

The parched sandy desert is now completely gone.

Straight up stood the rattler

Standing straight up beside her

In her silent naked beauty he quivered

Truth, sex, and seduction were hanging in the air

And Hope perched on the apple tree.

In her hand he saw the apple

As the scar on her side blazed blood red

With a snap of the fangs

Apple in his mouth

The rattler fell dead to the ground.

Hope still perch on the tree.

© 2005 Dayvid Graybill