Two Tongues. Poem by Ross Ulysses Munroe

pinioned by a vice
one jaw, fire; the other, ice
twixt the two, lava flows
glowing, the steam
cleaving existence into lesser halves

hapless surrender
snaps at the heels
until it sinks its ravenous fangs
into the bloodied pride of Achilles
bringing down the meek
and the mighty alike

and so moving deep in the waters
does this two-headed serpent whisper
mortifying the flesh and sapping the will
of the sleeping
those cursed to be crushed by the mill
slaves to the wheel
in thrall

but that double-tongued cobra
when caught in the act is fused
into burnished steel
becoming a sword to the power
of One
cutting the Gordian knotted tongue
transforming the serpent
into the servant

and a slave rises from bent knee
to become the master.