a snake slides smoothly
over a pair of twisted zucchinis
between rows of dark, ripening tomatoes
straight towards a bulging eggplant
ignoring the fading dahlias and
discarded soda can by its side
it pauses flicking its forked tongue in and out keenly sensing the spring air
knowing instinctively
where opportunities lie it inches forward cautiously slowly approaching
an unsuspecting prey
like a skilled ninja it becomes motionless until in an instant
that is shorter than an eye blink, a fat grasshopper munching atop an eggplant leaf finds to its surprise that existence is very brief . . .
flicking its forked tongue