Trek of the Scorpion

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The desert stretches out before me,
An ocean of rock, sand and towering green monoliths.
Here I stand, carrying twenty-five babies on my back,
Still unaware I consumed their father.
I scuttle from my resting place under one outcrop to another,
And another and another to keep my babies cool.

All eight of my legs are already getting worn out,
And my tail is starting to drag on the earth's ragged pavement.
So I stop in front of a lake, lapping it in with my mandibles,
With the babies sharing the liquid while dangling from my back.
I resume my voyage in the dark, to where I know not,
But it must be found before the blinding globe claims the sky again.

A praying mantis greets me in combat with his arm-swords,
I respond with both pairs of scissors and my tail javelin.
How we clash and grapple, clash and grapple,
And he is about to steal one of my young for his stomach.
But I grasp his neck and launch my javelin into the foe,
All death juices flowing from the spear's conjoined tanks.
The battle won and the meal gained,
I take my share and throw the rest on my back.
The children pounce upon it like panthers,
Swarming over each other until the meat has vanished.

I see a winged wolf approach from the heavens,
And take cover under a nearby rock.
Just in time, for the wolf dives and snatches only air,
Flying off, hoping to find another of my kind.

Hearing a sound, I scuttle a full half circle,
To see a great speckled dragon with instrument of rhythm tipping the tail.
It rattles, and I back away from the rock's shelter just in time,
For it lashes out its head and flashes its titan teeth.
My tail javelin rears up and sticks it from underneath;
It's not fatally wounded, just pricked, but it withdraws.

I scuttle, seeing the globe's rays kissing the sky.
Finally, I find a hole at the foot of a green monolith,
Empty, completely devoid of unwanted company.
I rest, as do my babies from what they have eaten,
Our trek is over, and we shall dream till the globe has sunk.

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About the Author - Jeffrey DeCristofaro

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Contact Jeffrey DeCristofaro:
We Art The People
(828)545-5968
www.alienscribe.deviantart.com

Learn more about Jeffrey.

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