Snake in the Grass (Paintball)

Please proceed to coax me towards confidence.

I felt needs to forgive you, but proceeded to drive myself with hatred.

Consider my life...serendipitous. Slick, slippery, covered in slime. I slither.

Belly down in turf, bellied up to the trough I added paint to my skin. You whispered

“Come hither.”

I knew better than to trust you, your difference in colors shot into the bunkers I laid behind.

I knew, I was quickly stirred by quarrels and spoke truth with my barrel pointed across court.

You sneaked

Spiked cleats grasped grass, crunched shells and galavanted passed you weren't too fast…

“I got you.”

Dug in behind the dugout glancing past inflatable cover not knowing if I had yet passed

I gasped.

Your visor peaked towards me, you eyes callow to my presence I thought you had not known.

“I was wrong.”

I slinked, like tomorrow nights dinner you splayed your back to me and I grinned.

My air tank full, paintballs rattled, I skipped in your direction.

Skipping was not running, running was not walking you spied.

The confidence you granted me lied I let my guard down

“And here is how I die.”

You must have heard the clutter, as I tripped upon a tuft.

Too close to hide you rose, I was fried.

Let loose your fury, spray your paint on my mask.

“Ouch.”

I got up defeated. You basked in your own laughter while I sapped up salty paint and soaked embarrassment through my jersey.

“What’d I tell ya kid? Never...EVER..let your guard down. The viper only strikes when your hand falls.”