Cobra And Mongoose Poem by Ian McArthur

(This is a dialogue between the mortal enemies Cobra and Mongoose. The fourth stanza is a vague reference to the Old Testament of Monotheistic religions for in which a showdown leads to sticks being turned into snakes)

'You've tempted fate, mongrel,
and rolled my glare to you.
Raise your hackles, bare your teeth
it's all that you can do.'

'Hot blood
and claws sharp
with these strong limbs
I'll tear worm's flesh apart! '

'Furry wretch, do you know
I see your heated body glow?
Agility for a single show
as I mark you with fang's stow.'

'You, serpent, do not have the rage
or wisdom of the burning sage
you are enthralled by Egyptian mage
than stiffed into a wooden cage.'

'We die together than...
I envenomed you before,
fangs crushed down on airways door...'