Pantoum for Peer Pressure
by Steven M. Smith
for my granddaughter on her 16th birthday
It’s out there—slithering patiently and methodically--
often immune to your repellents. It will slink.
Then into your heart’s foliage it will hide and coil.
So, be cautious.
Often immune to your repellents, it will slink
as it wraps around the budding limbs of its proposals.
So, be cautious
when you peel the apples, it will bring in the murky moonlight.
As it wraps around the budding limbs of its proposals,
you might begin to find its discarded skins in the shady sunlight.
When you peel the apples, it will bring in the murky moonlight,
be cautious. Be cautious when it blows you a hissing kiss in the wind.
You might begin to find its discarded skins in the shady sunlight.
Then into your heart’s foliage it will hide and coil.
Be cautious. Be cautious when it blows you a hissing kiss in the wind.
It’s out there—slithering patiently and methodically--
It’s out there—slithering patiently and methodically--
often immune to your repellents. It will slink.
Then into your heart’s foliage it will hide and coil.
So, be cautious.
Often immune to your repellents, it will slink
as it wraps around the budding limbs of its proposals.
So, be cautious
when you peel the apples, it will bring in the murky moonlight.
As it wraps around the budding limbs of its proposals,
you might begin to find its discarded skins in the shady sunlight.
When you peel the apples, it will bring in the murky moonlight,
be cautious. Be cautious when it blows you a hissing kiss in the wind.
You might begin to find its discarded skins in the shady sunlight.
Then into your heart’s foliage it will hide and coil.
Be cautious. Be cautious when it blows you a hissing kiss in the wind.
It’s out there—slithering patiently and methodically--
Steven M. Smith is the author of the poetry collection, Strongman Contest (Kelsay Books, 2021). His poems have appeared in 3rd Wednesday, The American Journal of Poetry, The Worcester Review, Rattle, Offcourse, Hole in the Head Review, Blue Lake Review, and Action, Spectacle. He recently retired from the State University of New York at Oswego, where he worked as the Writing Center director. He lives in Liverpool, New York.