your venom will not harm me,
serpent
your coils will not compress,
expel my breath
or crush my bones to chalk

your forked tongue
will not beguile me
snake's syrup hiding
hidden barbs

you will not surprise me
from the dark,
your coal-sleek, shadow-sheathed
self slipping sideways,
to and fro -
your ivory fangs
an unwished for
ectothermic kiss
to endothermic epidermis

because, reptile,
I will find you.
will track your brass scales
like the thrush tracks snails
the vixen tracks the fowl,
like hammer follows nail.

relentless, my pursuit will not fail -
I a bloodhound on your festering trail
will find you in the rocks
in the sewer-slime and the blistering sand.
I will find you when the sun goes down
and snatch you with my hand.

lidless eyes
will analyse me
your tongue will flick seductively
but moved, oh no, not I will be.
I'll take my knife,
my sharp'd steel
bring it down and make you feel
that wicked edge,
an enforced termination -
vertebrae separated
by multiple serrations
twitching counterparts birthed,
sightless head & impotent tail -  
for serpent,
against me,
you will surely fail