SLUG

..Old leopard-skin hermaphrodite
....hangs a dangle of slime
......from a slip of salal, and swings
..........down the wind to those querying

...........eyestalks of his glistening her.
..........She’s the she this time, so he
...........lifts her off the trail, she clasps
.............foot-to-foot, top-to-bottom, pas

...............de deux slower now they’re heavier
.................in the wind and they begin that
................ancient wrap of skins, that slow,
...............wet-skin writhe that births us all.

................Moonrise, finally, they stretch and
.................slide back up the trail. Now, night
..............and their silver alphabet, this living
............calligraphy, shimmers under our ivory
moon.

Bill Ransom
A Silver Sky Press
Wordman Production Company
Copyright © 2002