at 22 years old
her snake-less body
was one of wonder
to the man
at 23
it carried nothing but scars
and asps wrapped in her braids
heroes raged
at her independence
and at their own mortality
turned their hearts to stone
then to dust
all the while
the pit in her own
stayed dark
the boa on her forehead
still hissed
its sacred song
Jen 