Birthing the Viper

Birthing the Viper Writhing in leaf litter Slithering from placental membranes Vipers are live-born motherless Hungry, scared, anxious Kill, eat, flee Driven by base instinct Never tempered or turned There is no love for vipers No warmth in cold-blooded kin Always ready to bury a fang Always dripping fiery venom Ready to lose their head To kill what they learned to hate