Rounding A Corner Poem by ivan mcguinness

Rounding a corner I stopped mid
Stride, ridiculous with one leg raised
High, a surprise sliver of adder
Tongue toward the thigh high grass
A spring silver filament
That slipped from view,
Before balance was disturbed by a count of four,
Without acceleration.
Leaving a retinal flash,
A light bulb scar.

All the sunlight
Hush of grass,
Bright bird song
Murmuring insects,
Sleepy spindles of time
Every-day summer loveliness
Made me heart-happy
Thankful.

And for more than four seconds for sure,
I've cupped the head of a new born,
Damned the eyes of a loved one in spite
But still I remember that one sight
Of a serpent recoiling from love.