SPIKE

if you look closely enough you can see the black spiny-tailed iguana

she can see you, too

calling herself “espiga” she minds her own business

unless you bother her or her baby

then she bites

you can’t see the little one, though

calling herself “pica,” something that bites, she’s more daring

than her mother wants her to be

don’t bite unless you have to, her mother says

when you eat your flowers, fruit and eggs in the morning

chew with your mouth closed, she says

above all, be nice, mother says

it’s nice to be nice

don’t bite unless you have to