Today’s constraints from Two Sylvias: write about something complicated, restrict line lengths e.g. four words, three words, two words, no words etc. and number of lines to between 8 and 12.

Here’s my attempt, which started as a found poem, then I played with it:

Origin. Intelligence.

Mystery. The parts don’t
make sense. The visual
way back, the reptilian.
Balance. Territory. Sex.

Snakes stare back, thinking
Is she lunch?

Monkey emotion.
Social hierarchy.

Prefrontal.
Rational.
Where am I anyway?
You? Behind your forehead.

Carol A. Stephen
April 7, 2018