by Kevin Ridgeway
Shaking for a loose cigarette
the sky clear and the moon full
the southwestern lights illuminating
a distant palm
a star on a Christmas Tree
a beautiful and horrifying vision
of spikes and pricks
with a bleeding gum fanged smile
a burning flower against
the black sky
climbing toward the atmosphere
its scales purring
whispering
look at me, look at me
I could crush you
and that would be that