Al Russell

Basilisk
For JR

The desert lizard has risen
running like a scalded dog
amazing flexibility and power in the legs
barreling toward the end of the road
that leads off the edge of the world.

The paw, the talon, the heel of the hand
of the man, of the bear, of the desert lizard
connects with the skull of the root of the night
of the word that found its mark in your throat.

Horsemen launch into the canyon where the water smells
like sediment, algae, and the color clear.

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Al Russell is a pansexual nonbinary tankie North Carolinian former educator parent dog lover who reads too many books, watches too many movies, and smokes too many cigs. Previous collections (available from Vegetarian Alcoholic Press) are titled Children of the Anxious City and Lookinglasshouse.

IG @allenalanallan