Smiling Serpents Poem by Vuyani Brown Mnisi

What man has seen a serpent smiling?
Promising that it poses no harm as long as you join its ways
Is it not how humanity lost its innocence?
Is it not its skilful seduction to make us believe we are one with it?
I tell you, friend
I urge you to listen for the smile
The smile of a serpent
It is beautiful and convincing if you want it to
It will never bite you until you expose its reality

What man has seen a serpent smiling?
Why do you think it finds joy in a human being?
Do not fool yourself! It hates you
Slithering with great two feet up your heart
The basic eminence of your smile it brings out in all sincerity
Your trust will be depended on how previous blind men handled it
They were fools but you are not
And when it sees that you know the truth
The poison under its teeth will be showered on your face!

What man has seen a serpent smiling?
None of us in this place are friends!
The trusting will be killed by the custodians
And foolishness will be exposed....
Well, maybe not foolishness but utter ignorance