In the anthropology museum
in Mexico City

the statue
of Coatlicue

wears a skirt of woven snakes
a necklace of human hearts and hands

her breasts heavy from gravidanza
the clasp of her belt a skull.

And where she was decapitated
her spurting blood is two facing serpents.

Voracious monster mother
loving Earth mother

——tomb /
—womb, etc.

She rises at dawn to sweep away the bones
make space for the new

her son
fathered by a feather

is born
fully grown

and armoured
for battle.

We, his snake sisters
weave.

*

Audio
Juana Adcock reads Skirt of Snakes