Poetry: “COBRA” by Katie Kemple

In the wake of current political developments, Katie Kemple’s “COBRA,” feels a little too close to home. Kemple describes a scary reality, one a little too close to home for many, making decisions that seem trivial—which kind of beans or apples to buy—but are really quite important, when one is trying to save money and make a paycheck last. The snake metaphor is scary and revealing; the specter of loss (money, insurance, employment, basic necessities of all kinds) becoming threatening in a physical, urgent way, rather than an idea which only exists in the abstract. But the real achievement of this poem is Kemple’s control. In the face of this turmoil, Kemple’s speaker remains calm and explains the situation so anyone could understand, and by understanding, empathize. It’s surprisingly devoid of analysis and emotion, and this is by design. Kemple gives us the facts and we draw our own conclusions. What will we do, when faced with such financial insecurity, such injustice? Do we have our own cobras, wrapping around our own legs? Are we going to support each other, or turn away?

COBRA
July starts with reduced clients for me, down to one
from three, insecure sentiments leading

into summer. My husband’s let go from his job in the flick
of a tongue from HR. The words still fresh

in our mouths over the past decade of intermittent
COBRA, that snake who eats our nest egg

and slithers beside me down the vegetable aisle
at Ralph’s, reminding me of how extravagant

I’d been last week, ordering a $20 burrito, leaving
a tip. It’s back to Rosarita refried beans

in a can wrapped in whatever brand of tortilla’s
on sale. When I apply for a government job,

I’m offered a free resume analysis. Free’s good.
I take it. Turns out I’m selling myself

short. My resume reads like a doer not an achiever.
How to square that when achievement

tastes like luck? The resume bot encourages
me to quantify my history.

The example: Slashed payroll/benefits costs by 30%.
And I think of the people who put

that on their resume after each layoff meeting,
their own being the last.

The COBRA is winding her way up my leg to get
a better view from my shoulder.

She’s calculating the cost differential between
commercial and organic, Fuji and Honey Crisp.