The leopard
Picked off his spots
Like clotted blood
Laid them purposefully
On the table
A game of checkers
With the snake
Tasting a change
In the flavour of the weather
Peeled off his skin
Awkwardly
Like pulling a bribe
From a hidden pocket
The leopard
Not to be outdone
Took a marker
From the panther
Shaded in his
Gold copper cover
The snake
Spat his poison
Into a pot
For later
Kept the fangs
Tucked under the gum
Surprised he slithered
Into the tall grass
Of static and paper.
