by John Whitney Steele
The predatory arachnids of the order,
Scorpiones, sit and wait for prey
to move, unknowing, into the ambush zone.
Once the prey has been detected
they turn, run, and seize it.
If the prey
is perceived to be aggressive or active,
they inject it with their venom.
Otherwise they simply hold and eat it.
The victim’s body parts are broken down,
liquified, and sucked into the scorpion’s
stomach.
The victim is gradually reduced
to a ball of indigestible
material,
which is cast aside.
John Whitney Steele is a psychologist, yoga teacher, assistant editor of Think: A Journal of Poetry, Fiction and Essays, and graduate of the MFA Poetry Program at Western Colorado University. His chapbook, The Stones Keep Watch, and his full length collection of poetry, Shiva’s Dance were recently published by Kelsay Books. John lives in Boulder, Colorado and enjoys hiking in the mountains.