the snakeman

he carefully measured an ideal dose
of the wayward reptile's vicious venom
and injected it into his aging veins
and he swayed to the music of the drums

for he had to prove his people wrong
and banish from their minds the fear and the hatred
he sang to them to protect this species
and they dutifully nodded as they waited

snakes were as important to humankind, he said,
as a worm to the bird, to the forest the moss
and as he teetered towards his death
the snakeman wept over his failed cause


for three word wednesday prompts: ideal, measure, teeter

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very deep and sensual, leaves me thinking...

Never Centered

Tumblewords: said...

Oh. Nicely written.

Dee Martin said...

sad to be the snakeman!

Thom Gabrukiewicz said...

creepy, but in a totally good way. Your deft handling of the words made this.

J. S. Clawson said...

And yet I weep for this snakeman.....Good job with the words! :-)

ladygarfield said...

Thanks Nicole, Sue, Dee Martin, Thom, Scott.

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