Another snake poem, I will categorise it under ‘events’, but I think it had an emotional impact on both of us.
‘Save my snake’, an arm raised from the sea
and thrust into the stranded boat
a wet and frightened boa constrictor
that quickly wrapped around my wrist.
‘Calm it’ the guide said ‘I forgot it in my pocket’
resuming his sodden task in the dusk
dislodging the boat from the sandbank.
I know the snake calmed first,
but in my defence I would claim
it had the lesser shock.
