.
Chattel Dance
.
When two lizards fight, they make like they dance
back and forth across a banana leaf
or over the branch of an ackee tree.
They grab each other by the jaw and mask

in muted tones, showing strength to each other
but no one else.  Thus the mask--what better
way to disguise the truth than with pirouettes?
When they bite each other's tail, the tender

flesh whips around, thrashing, and loser runs
free.  The end rains through scented air, past flame
tree blossoms.  Winner puffs out his throat, waits
for the other to regrow
forked tail like some

devil's whip.  When they fight, and she bites,
he jokes, "You better watch out for me devil tail."

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