Desert Tour Poem by Nassy Fesharaki

Desert tour

Once, I walked in desert
On the side saw snake
Laid circle in circle.

Kept the head in centre
And on guard the thin tail.

The baseless warnings of
Elderly, books of faiths
Had eroded trust,
We were filled with fright
Till we, both bowed to facts
And became good friends.

I was a passerby
With question,
He, advice.

Inside me I had hid,
The foolish history.

Was laughing at the joke,
That ember in stove!

The serpent misguiding
The Adam and the Eve?

Snake was as afraid
As I was, of desert.

The paths died, and sun killed,
Burned hot dues, tortured hills,
Rarest thing was green.

Overjoyed encountered
Mushroom-sized watermelon
With same shape and linings,
Took one, hoped to help me
Reduce thirst and heat,
Realised, was lying
That bitter, gluy
Was lesson in desert:
"Snake is honest but poisonous."