pet snake

would you like to see my pet snake?
he has so many concert tickets 
& so many flashy hard drives. a perfume
meant to mimic the scent of maria antonieta.
a handbag made of his own skin.
would you like to talk to my pet snake?
he speaks only in bitcoin. he has a gramophone 
where he plays records of past gods
as they talk about gold. when i say i have
a pet snake you know what i mean. i mean 
i have something dangerous. i mean i have
something that will eat the softness 
from the soles of your feet. i mean i have
an apple salesperson. i mean there is a ceiling
without a ceiling in my house. a collection
of pigeons looking down & waiting
for the right moment where the coast is clear
& it is safe to watch a children's tv show
without any shame. what was the last joy
you partook in without any shame?
mine was eating a bowl of whipped cream
in the kitchen. my pet snake watched
but at least it was delicious. at least there wasn't
anyone to blame but myself.
i take my pet snake to the abandoned
blockbuster on hamilton street. he wants
to talk to the carpet. would you like
to pray to my snake? he only requires 
an offering of 15.99 a month. if you sign up now
though you'll get the first month 
of prayer free. i used to ask for snow
but now i ask for a waterfall. something
to fall over. something to deliver me
where there are no more answers.
the questions come like mice. urgent
& hungry. i feed them to my pet snake.
to each he says, "soon." "soon." "soon."