He was not born with ophiciophobia,
the fear of snakes, but
the swamps of Louisiana
hiss in the sun with crawly things.
You have to learn to tell
a moccasin from a water snake,
a coachwhip from a cottonmouth
and to keep your eyes on the ground.
“Watch for snakes, son, ”
his mama said when she heard
the screen door slam.
“Yes, ma’am, .” he called back.
Now that he lives in New York City,
the only reptiles live in Bronx zoo.
Yet other venomous creatures
wait poised to strike,
and he never fails to warn his son:
“Watch out for snakes.
You have to know the difference…”
was that a metaphor? LOL *************please read and review my poems please **********************
Brilliantly said, we must try and teach them from when they are young, Love Duncan
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
My husband was born in Mississippi and he and his brothers and sisters swam with snakes. I just couldn't do it! ! Not a water person anyway. Very descriptive, Sonny! Marilyn