Nurturers

wise sister beat the meat
so mother could suckle babes

swift
in purpose and promise of readied meals

she followed snake's vertebrae 

tender as ghost

and this our host 

baked into thunder rolls

stricken-ed she says 

that snake out on the counter

was beaten and cold

aware of everything 

around her.

and they came then

-- licking up the salt --

all those squirmy peaches

with their tongues perched 

to dissolve 

behind sister's knees with pleads 

while mother has upon her chest

pinned to the sofa's arm

two like fly to paper

warm and busy

scales drift off the counter

flutter-wobble 

to the young

to the flexors beneath

tugging at the tail and 

gristle in their teeth

tethered there to sister

twitch 

 with teasing agony

every clobby thud 

serenading their

tiny peachy ears

but their little peaching wails

carry not to the one 

up on the counter

who flakes now

swollen now

exposed

she's gone                        

and feeding herself now, 

 on her maker's

salty toes