Nagini Confessional

by Rita Mookerjee

            In the Mahabharata, the naga are a race of demigods, half-human and
            half-serpent. They aid Vishnu in creating the universe. Female nagas are
            known as nagini; they are eerily beautiful and guard treasure.

Inside of my bun lives a dark beast
boneless daughter of Scylla and Cthulhu
when my scalp gets hot, it’s time to feed.

In her tentacular vise, it may seem 
like the only way out is down or through, 
but inside of my bun lives a dark beast

so you’ll want to think twice about dropping eaves
because she listens and remembers you
& when my scalp gets hot, it’s time to feed.

Beneath her coils are spiny yellow teeth
& her tongue bores holes like a corkscrew.
Look inside my bun where there lives a dark beast.

When a blue suit rambles, she exhales steam.
He could try to run, but it’s no use.
She tongues his head like a scoop of ice cream
because when my scalp gets hot, it’s time to feed.

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