256. In the Grass

I walk along the dirt lawn
toward the path up the hill
when I hear the crunch
of something heavy on dry grass.
I look over at the denser area
but nothing seems amiss,
so I continue on until it happens again.

I stop, waiting to see what
emerges from the foliage
but I'm also ready to run,
on the off-chance I need to.

The tall grass moves again
with what must be a large animal
before the reptilian head emerges.
The goanna stands on its hind legs
surveying the area before disappearing
into the plant life once more.

I wait for another crunch-shuffle
and the head pops up again
like a prairie dog in the dunes.
It stays for a moment,
then disappears another time.