Texas Indigo Snake Poem by Juan Olivarez

Walking through the chapparral,
A loud rattle assailed my ears.
I stopped in my tracks,
Trembling in my boots.
There she was,
Coiled up,
Under the big colima.
Six feet of,
Slow painful death.
A Western Diamondback.
She was ready,
To deliver her punch,
I had strayed too close.

But it was not to be.
There was a loud,
Rustling of twigs, and leaves,
A cloud of dust,
And a gigantic, black serpent,
Engulfed the rattler.

Easily twice the size,
Of the Diamondback,
The Texas Indigo Snake,
Wrapped itself,
Around the rattler.
And slowly began,
To squeeze.

In a matter of minutes,
The Texas Indigo Snake,
Dispatched,
Then ate,
The Western Diamondback.

I just stared in awe.
And all I could muster,
Was a hoarse, 'thanks, '
As trembling,
I headed for home.

12/12/10 Alton Texas