Kathmandu Ii Poem by moon batchelder

on day one, i journeyed to pashupatinath where
three holy sadhus requested i join them. there
sitting before them were baskets - three small and two
big ones with woven lids. then one man asked 'are you
frightened by snakes? ' without thinking i told him 'no'
the silent one bade me to pick up my flute and so
raising the wooden recorder my mouth unto
i played, while lids on the baskets one man removed.
three cobras rose from the small baskets suddenly
dancing, as if, while i blew a soft melody
then one man brought forth a python and wound it
around me right there. my two guides were astounded.
many on pilgrimage there gathered closer to
see this strange white woman playing with cobras who
wore 'round her garlands of python coils, mindlessly
playing her wooden flute there. what a sight to see.