Ssss…snake

CRICK in the neck after my crazed horse
SHIED at the snake slung on a branch. The
VENOM is mild; I can still make it to the
VENUE in time, all the while looking sideways.

Snakebit

VENUE and means unexpected;
VENOM that should drop a man dead
SHIED from the Power within and thrown in the fire:
CRICK in the neck held over from a head wound.

Woke-soft

OLIVE is the colour of the tough-as fence-
PLANKs – some aged militarian using up surplus army paint.
OUT GO the planks, their stolid lives replaced by woke-soft
WOVEN material that might survive one small storm, maybe two.