slithering smoky snake
suspended to strike
slips and spins over
smooth surface-
self-respect in shreds
massive mongoose
with malicious eyes-
materializes
out of nowhere;
meanders towards
the hissing snake
to strike that huge
reptilian head.
eternal enemies from
eons gauge each other.
mongoose pauses
with a ridicule
gaze, turns around
to go the other way
leaving snake alone.
absolved now,
reptile breathes easy
closes its eyes, relieved.
just as the mind eases
mongoose strikes for kill
"lesson of survival, be on your toes always"
Yes, a good lesson indeed. The snake's wiles are definitely renowned since the beginning of time. Sneaky thing!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the tally is between these eternal enemies?!
ReplyDeleteI love your survival lesson at the end. I agree with Mary - snakes are sneaky things!
ReplyDeleteYes, Diane, snakes are sneaky, but mongooses (geese?) are sneakier. This lovely alliterative poem reminds me of Kipling's Rikki Tikki Tavi!
ReplyDeleteEternal enemies indeed! It's a story in a poem. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteA lesson one can't afford to forget
ReplyDeleteThis really had the feel of a fable..expertly done..Jae
ReplyDeleteThere is more than one lesson to be learned here. I agree with Viv, the alliteration, especially in the first two verses, is superb and makes the imagery even more vivid. Snakes are a symbol of transformation because they shed their former self and move on, yet how many of us applaud the mongoose because it slays the sanke?
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
I love the way you wrote this, really enjoyable to read aloud, well done :o)
ReplyDeleteVery beautifully crafted and thougt out.. a good lesson there..
ReplyDeleteI love all the S's in the first verse and the M'ms in the second.
ReplyDeleteI agree it had the feel of a fable.
Nice writing. :-)
My 3WW - Spotlight.
Poor snake. Never turn your back on an enemy.
ReplyDeleteThe ending sums it all up wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteYou kept me in suspense through the whole poem, Snakes ARE sneaky!
ReplyDeleteGreat vision of the eternal struggle between two rivals. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteNice story in a poem...There is an Indian song on the same lines...Wonderful
ReplyDeletehttp://mangop.blogspot.com/2010/10/absolve-great-quality.html
Great lesson here. Love and Light, Sender
ReplyDeleteGreat use of the three words this week!
ReplyDeleteA nice tale of the Snake and the Mongoose but the lesson it imparts is important in life. Enjoyed it and well said :)xs
ReplyDeleteNice take, nice message.. Loved it..
ReplyDelete--Someone Is Special--
Hi Gautami, really good suspense and imagery -- I liked this!
ReplyDeleteNice poem with a Moral!
ReplyDeleteA very good fable... :)
ReplyDeleteA leson we should all learn early but often don't
ReplyDelete