The Snake Poem by Gert Strydom

Lord, when the leviathan rose
out of the dark depths
of the raging sea

uncoiling itself
twisting to strike at Thee,

Thy mighty great sword
stroke the serpent dragon
piercing and slaying it

and to this day I wonder
what this creature could be,
as no such creature have being seen.

While some speculate on crocodile
as being too powerful to be caught
like a fish,

or killed by man with a spear, sword or harpoon
having a neck, strong frame, nostrils
and scales

it doesn’t truly fit the picture
as it doesn’t live in the ocean
or dwell in the sea

and Canaanite mythology
tells of a seven headed primeval monster
untwisting itself to fight Thee.

l’Envoi
Yet still more the snake from the tree
took a bite at Thee

and Thy sacrifice
set all men free.


[References: Isaiah 27: 1, Ps 74: 14, Job 41: 1-33, A cylinder seal from Tell Asmar,  Genisis 3: 15,2 Esdras 6: 49-52. ]