Some Nights It Is The Hiss

Hunger lost his father last monsoon.
His phobia of serpents has been biting him
ever since.

"Embrace it." Prescribes a family friend.
His father returns as a fish, and his
mother cooks him every day.

The unending fish swims in their intestines.
Dream inserts its hand into that dark burrows,
and most nights pulls out the fish.
Some nights it is the hiss.