Samuel Jackson is going to be starring in a movie later this year with the title "Snakes on a Plane." I believe it's about, um, snakes on a plane.

I hope I am the first poet to use that phrase in a poem.

Hence, for your airborne herpetological pleasure, I present:

SNAKES ON A PLANE

Yeah, tomorrow's my birthday. I'm nearly 50.
The TV and the magazines tell you
it's all Snakes On A Plane from now on --
you know, waiting for something to kill you
and nowhere to go.

I woke up tonight after a nap
and looked at myself:
fat again, in limbo again, still medicated, still
underemployed. Smoking again. Drinking
too much, and snappish and boorish to boot.

So --why for the first time
do I like what I see?
Maybe because of this:
there's a black dog in the corner who keeps
looking at me. Right now, he's chained up
and there's no drool, he might be asleep but
with eyes that dark it's hard to tell. I know this dog.
He doesn't bite like a snake -- no quick nerve-freeze,
no sudden fall -- this one clamps down
and holds on till you're dragged to the ground.
And he'd follow you around all the time waiting
for his chance to do it.
I used to worry about that.
I could care less now.
The way I look at it:
at this age I'm well into the second half.
If I get depressed, I'm skipping the suicide
because there's isn't all that long to wait.

And if there are motherfuckin' snakes
on this motherfuckin' plane?
Motherfucker, at least I'm flying.

Happy Early Bday!

I thought this peace was deep. I enjoyed reading the descriptive black dog, and your:

If I get depressed, I'm skipping the suicide
because there's isn't all that long to wait.

It was depressing, thought provoking, and put a perspective on things.

hotstuff wrote:

Happy Early Bday! I thought this peace was deep. I enjoyed reading the descriptive black dog, and your: If I get depressed, I'm skipping the suicide because there's isn't all that long to wait. It was depressing, thought provoking, and put a perspective on things.

Thank you.

The "black dog" metaphor for depression is pretty old -- seems to have first been coined by Winston Churchill back in the 30s. He suffered from clinical depression.

I'm bipolar, and sometimes people call that "black dog/white dog" -- with the snarling beast of depression and the frenzied activity of mania being symbolized there.

I like this one, myself -- it sort of tumbled out without much editing, which is not my style.

wow...this was really great...i liked everything about it..."snakes on the plane" is cool...i could have had a field day with that phrase but you turned it into a unique and awesome poem...very impressive piece!

I liked this when I heard it at your feature at Jester's. Nothing comes to mind to change. The particular moments of delight for me were

Quote:

So --why for the first time do I like what I see?

AND

Quote:

If I get depressed, I'm skipping the suicide because there's isn't all that long to wait.

Of course, I can relate, being 49, and a bit moody myself.

I like the piece. Very good metaphor as it's already been pointed out. Oh and the whole being the first poet to use 'Snakes on a Plane", very cool idea.

Hey -- this poem's going to be published in early August in a book collecting the best writing from the Internet on the topic of the movie, which opens August 18.

Very cool. How did they find out about your poem?

gotpoety wrote:

Very cool. How did they find out about your poem?

Internet searches. A link made it onto snakesonablog.com.

That's incredible - I wish I could hear it performed.

yah its awesome
i spose in that state u hav no choice but to be deep,it must be beautiful well of inspiration

Tony, that's very awesome news! I'm late saying congrats on that as usual. I'd love to hear you read this - I may get myself out to hear poetry again one of these days soon. If I do, you have to read this for me.

i really enjoyed this. i've often found myself in situations where major drawbacks make you question your whole existence, and then I think, "all that matters is i'm still alive." good read.

I love this piece. Makes you think a whole lot about life in general!!!