John Buckler is an artist

Slow Worms

Slow worms are lizards without legs.
But their machine part heaviness,
hides a silky speed seen
when touched by a greedy hand, keen
to own the naffness of their celtic coiling.

Some are slender,gold;
thick precious wire,
lying lost on the dry soil.
Others are merely bronze,
curled as cheap fifties fire tongs.

Under a red and black iron sheet, in the dark,
they wait for the sun to fuel their day,
cocked guns' springs,
keen to slug
slugs.

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