The vicious moment

She couldn’t close her eyes

Couldn’t allow that to happen.

Time passes so slowly

Eyes burning, feeling like

The parched surface of the desert.

But she could not lose

This match of minds and will

And pain.

The stakes were so high.

She felt how a tear was forming

But it could not,in of itslef,

Reach and smother the flame.

He looked intentionally cool,

A master of this game,

Not even an allowed twitch,

To be hurriedly restrained.

Was he made of stone?

Could he not feel?

She read somwhere,

That snakes have a dry

Translucent sheath,

Oh, to be a reptile.

She went through her training:

Distraction is the key.

She made careful stock,

Of all her stamps,

Even where they were placed

Carefully, in the album.

She kept it up,

Until, at last, the creep

Blinked.

Bring it on if you dare, but

No one beats the sand Queen!