Daybreak

Daybreak and Jake

is ready for school.

Screen door slaps

Jake makes his way

to the car. Mother follows

looking down. Sad eyes

widen, a creeping omen

at their feet,

the snake.

Mother screams

Jake looks down,

smiles.

The snake slides

between his sneakers.

Mother calls the dog

and grabs the rake.

Together, mother and dog

slaughter the snake-

the teeth of the rake

then those of the dog,

they take turns.

Jake cries, he weeps,

Mother looks up.

For heaven's sake, what Jake,

what makes Jake cry?

Mother reaches for Jake,

Jake pulls away.

That snake, Jake wails,

that snake.

It could have been

somebody's mother.