Snakebite

Running through a maze,
purple walls, pink walls,
gray, black, concrete, dirt
underfoot. Miles in the sky,
hands outstretched, searching
for a door. A button,
a silent elevator. Chasing
down the black, an opening.

Giant swing, gears creaking,
back and forth, away and toward.
A hiss snaking up from the ground,
the sound of a sweet rattle shaking.
Slithering on the ground,
a chain of red. Hands grasp
wooden pole. Shaking, slicing
off the rattle. Giant leap,
swinging across. Solid.

Running, always running,
Another button,
silent elevator. Angry.
Pounding it into the wall,
the creak of another swing.
To the edge of solid floor,
toes barely safe, a purple chain
below, hissing, hissing.
Pole still in hand, trying to smash.
No luck.

Fall.