Rattlesnakes Hammered on the Wall

Seven of them pinned in blood by

long, shiny tails, three of them still

alive and writhing against the wood,

their heaviness whipping the wall

as they try to break free,

rattles beating in unison,

hisses slowly dying in silence,

the other four hanging stiff

like ropes to another life,

patterns of torn skin dripping

with power and loss, the wonder

of who might have done this

turning in shock as all seven

suddenly come alive when

I get closer, pink mouths

trembling with white fangs,

lunging at me then falling back,

entangled in one another to form

twisted letters that spell a bloody

word I can’t understand.

Copyright Credit: Ray Gonzalez, “Rattlesnakes Hammered on the Wall” from Consideration of the Guitar: New and Selected Poems. Copyright © 2005 by Ray Gonzalez. Reprinted by permission of BOA Editions, Ltd.

Source: Consideration of the Guitar: New and Selected Poems (BOA Editions Ltd., 2005)