He waits down below, a snake around his neck, while she takes to the high wire; brushing fingers along dry skin, smooth like silk yet warm, still it hisses and spits; meanwhile she ascends higher and higher, as the snake begins to wind itself around his chest, his waist, his hips; but he longs only for his lover, upon the high wire, and fails to notice the embrace; the snake feeling each beat of his heart, as she glides effortlessly around him; muscles taunt and strong, wrapped around the trapeze bar, he recalls every callous on her hands, now outstretched towards the ground; he tries to reach for her, but fails; when his jealous mistress delivers her deadly kiss, it is she who claims his final breath.
