Always

I live in a small box
surrounded by the ocean
in its black solitude
where a serpent lives
and slides through the water
like a silver ribbon
riding the breeze
and the serpent will eat me
if I am unwary
so I watch for him always
and speak outloud
to frighten him
so he dives below
where no sound survives
staring through the deep
up at me
and draws closer
as i
pause to catch
my breath.