when serpents bargain

when serpents bargain for the right to squirm
and the sun strikes to gain a living wage when
thorns regard their roses with alarm
and rainbows are insured against old age


when every thrush may sing no new moon in
if all screech-owls have not okayed his voice


-and any wave signs on the dotted line
or else an ocean is compelled to close
when the oak begs permission of the birch
to make an acorn - valleys accuse their
mountains of having altitude - and march
denounces april as a saboteur


then we'll believe in that incredible
unanimal mankind (and not until)