Hello folks, it is good to be back. This break was enforced upon me. First, my server was down due to the rains. Then someone stole the telephone cables which made the ADSL broadband redundant! When that was set right, my modem went kaput and needed to be replaced. Today everything seems ok.
Good thing was, I read like mad!! Now I am going to catch up with all of you.
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I wrote this one in the period of my enforced break. But this suits the Sunday Scribblings prompt, decision. This works at many levels. I must not forget to mention Monday Poetry Train.
Snake and Mongoose
slithering smoky snake
suspended to strike
slips and spins over
on smooth surface
self-respect in shreds
massive mongoose
with malicious eyes
materializes
out of nowhere
meanders towards
that hissing snake
to strike that huge
reptilian head.
eternal enemies from
eons gauge each other.
mongoose pauses
with a non-committal
gaze, turns around
to go the other way
leaving snake alone.
with no fight left,
reptile breathes easy
closes its eyes relieved.
just as the mind eases
mongoose strikes for kill.
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I was awarded by scarlett.
This was started by Christy Z:
"For those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping others bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others."
Thanks scarlett and Christy.
I will get around nominating for this in a few days.
Welcome back. I missed you. Great verse. Whenever I consider my self the mongoose, I realize I am the snake.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. I was worried the monsoon floods had struck you area.
ReplyDeleteI feel sometimes the Muse is like a mongoose. Striking when least expected.
Hi Gautami,
ReplyDeleteSorry about the computer problems. They do say troubles come in threes, so hopefully, you are done for the year. Congrats on the award. :)
And no more snakes in the grass.
Rose
xo
I must confess I've been visiting your blog regularly and waiting for a new post! I love reading here. :~) I'm glad you're back and your latest is so clever...I most definitely have both snake and mongoose in my head battling it out on a regular basis! Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of your computer woes. It's a great poem (although I confess I always cringe when I read anything to do with snakes; comes from a childhood having to be on the lookout for water moccasins and rattlesnakes). Congrats on your award!
ReplyDeleteNo rest for the wicked, eh?
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem! I hate sneak attacks and now I'll think of the moongoose when I see my daughter. ;)
ReplyDeleteGautami:
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean (with your comment on my blog) that your snake/mongoose poem was less than stellar?
This is great, Gautami, just how I'd imagine an encounter of these two historic rivals...
And the ending is spectacular, with the mongoose turning back on its enemy, unsuspected, and striking.
And congrats on the award!
on smooth surface
ReplyDeleteself-respect in shreds.
I always wanted the cobra to win in these encounters. After all, the mongoose is a mammal, higher up the evolutionary ladder.
If you cross an hippopotamus with an elephant you get an hippophant.
What do you get when you cross a monkey with a mongoose then?
Love the poem, G! I might love the mongoose even more, though; I'm not a fan of snakes. Of any variety.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back. When my Internet went down for four hours I was spinning in circles. Glad you are up and running.
ReplyDeleteMy mind is filled with images from your poem.
I can practically see that mongoose out of the corner of my eye.
Take care,
Frances
Great story. It get "Pay Attention." quite often.
ReplyDeletegreat poem! a wildlife drama...
ReplyDeleteglad you're back :)
One of my earliest memories was reading the story about the heroic Rikki Tikki Tavi and the evil Nag boooo-hissssss!!
ReplyDeleteWe humans have always loved to see the cute fuzzy mammal triumph over the scaly cold-blooded devil.
I like the fact that you initally had the mongoose disssss the snake because a shunning is as good as an outright rebuke to a deaf snake.
Welcome back, Gautami. Nice poem. Really enjoyed it. You really work at expanding your styles. I admire that in you.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem about the law of the jungle...
ReplyDeleteI can't believe someone stole your telephone cables. How annoying.
ReplyDeleteAnd that naughty mongoose, although I'm not too keen on snakes.
I like the sense of tension I got from this verse, gautami. and the sibilant alliteration. really amazing piece.
ReplyDelete(someone stole your telephone wires?!!)
I like the alliteration in this. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Gautami! I love the new look of your blog -- it's gorgeous and the new photo of you is really beautiful! And I'm so glad you are ok -- I was so worried about all the flooding. I'm happy your computer problems got resolved. "Snake and Mongoose" is brilliant! I've read it several times, and I love the sounds it makes when I read it out loud -- great s's and m's -- makes it so alive. I also love the line "self-respect in shreds". Congratulations on the blog award!!!
ReplyDelete:)
I like the new look. As for the poem, reminds me of Jungle Book.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what Whitey thinks of this?
congratulations on the thoughtful blogger award! you certainly earned that!
ReplyDeleteI love that you're "back" from the rains and the computer problems with a fresh new look. beautiful!
Your snake/mongoose poem is brilliant. For me, life is the mongoose - constantly throwing unexpected danger along my path. But if I remain alert and wise, I'll be ok.
Cool!!! Love the new look. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you're o.k.! I like the new look, too. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the new blog look and feel, and your photo and your message.
ReplyDeleteIn response to the muse you pose: For me, the answer was to stop seeking and start accepting, but in a loving and appreciative way.
Namaste!
Glad you're back - sorry for your troubles - computer problems can be so frustrating.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem - the mongoose's attack catches the reader by surprise, as well as the snake.
Congratulations on your award.
ooh, nice new look.
ReplyDeletewelcome back & congrats on the award.
and, ah, reminds me to watch my back :)
Hope all else is well with you with all the rain and flooding. Glad the mongoose won!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting.
ReplyDeleteAmongst other things it also reminded me of Rikki Tikki Tavi.
Moral lesson: Never turn your back or let your guard down for this is when the enemy will strike. Believe me, I know.
Hope you are not suffering too much from the rains! I love the new look to your blog, btw!
ReplyDeleteI love these lines:
ReplyDeleteon smooth surface
self-respect in shreds
Bummer about your computer issues.
Thanks for coming by.
This is a great poem, Gautami, and a reminder not to turn our back on our surroundings. Congratulations on the award.
ReplyDeleteWow! Nice. Mongoose caught me by surprise too! Nice.
ReplyDeleteHello there! I LOVE the new look. It's warm and inviting and vibrant too...
ReplyDeleteThe poem did remind me of Rikki Tikki Tavi as well...it was also a great example of triumph over evil (for me anyway because I hate snakes!)
You so deserve the award you were given. Indeed, you are thoughtful and giving...and everyone benefits from reading your blog...
I enjoyed your poem and the twist at the end!
ReplyDeleteYou more than deserve it!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see it up on your page.
Excellent poem, as always!
Scarlett & V.
Thank you so much for including it in our blogging carnival.Thanks for participating!
ReplyDelete