Mutual Dread Is a Strange Respect

[Jassy Melson]

Sitting inside a slightly-used VW van
I saw my first snake of the year
tearing across the mountain road.
Now this was no slick snake in the grass,
this one was for real.
It was a brief encounter of reptile and man
for neither wanted to stick around
to explore or analyze,
that first summer serpent and I
just wanted to split the scene.
Looking back I noticed my black-blue acquaintance
stretched on the dirt road again.
Could it be that I interrupted a tan?
I marvel at such dust-swallowing will
and at the dusky velvet hue of polished skin.

Today I saw the face of one
smothered still with ancient fears,
without hesitation we both fled.
And I don't know about my friend
but for me it was instinct.

[AuntShecky]

This is a remarkable poem, both timely and timeless, effectively expressed.

The only change I'd make would be switching the position of the final two lines so that they would seem a little less anti-climactic.

From anti-climactic to climate change. It's really early to be seeing snakes,but I believe you. Up until this year, the earliest serpent I saw was 7 or 8 years ago on- ironically enough, St. Patrick's Day. The previous record was broken when I saw a garter snake this past New Year's Day.
Without spinning ourselves into paranoiac panic, we ought to take these not-so-subtle signs that Nature giving us and do something about it.

But even without the environmental message that I glean from it, your poem would stand nicely on its own about our relationship with our fellow creatures.

[Jack of Hearts]

Déja vu...






J



Edit: Yes, the poster remembers poems from two years ago but constantly forgets where he loses his car keys.

[AuntShecky]

Yes, and one other time in between. (I hasten to add a caveat that some of us LitNutters, including yours fooly, have at time re-posted previously-existing poems after they have been revised. "Hermit Crab" was one of them.)

And I still think that this particular piece by Jassy isn't really bad at all.