W
rithing snakes purify the white blood that sloshes around
Within the armor, the woodwind heart with back–and–forth stops
Running top a midnight scherzo at three miles per hour .
Folding into quarter crevices in three–quarter sleep,
Blattaria snuggles in moist shadows, shunning the light :
Nocturnal demon that can scissor–scramble on two legs,
And tilt rusted battle shields to lift off like a gargoyle
Against the stars .   Lineage from the Carboniferous,
With grappling appendages and well–groomed antenna smell,
That can survive on just thumbprint grease or postage stamp glue,
Chewing sideways .   The bicorn bottom feels the slightest draft
Of approach ;  two–thousand compound lenses scan all about .
The triangular head holds ancient roots of reflection
Tapped when hydraulic failure upturns six legs heavenward .

*[ WSB ]_.