Always, this D H Lawrence poem, “Snake” we learnt about in Secondary two, runs through my head, when I see an old friend like this equatorial spiting cobra –
“A snake came to my water-trough.
On a hot, hot day, and I in pyjamas for the heat,
To drink there.”
Click to enlarge
“… but even so, honoured still more
That he should seek my hospitality
From out the dark door of the secret earth.”
Go on, read the poem, and see how the poet deal with inner demons when contemplating the snake.
I came to a halt, circled round to enjoy the snake’s beauty of motion and colour, and regretted that we had disturbed it on its sojourn.
Photo by Marcus Chua.
Otterman speaks... 
