Rounded corner on heathered moor,
halted. Coiled in full sunlight,
black diamonds on grey back,
alarmed at appearance of one long feared.
Slithering, turned gaze
towards this startled face.
“Why look at me as your enemy?
I freed you from pointless imagination,
creation’s resources your possession,
this fruitful earth humanity’s heaven.
Who need care about divine,
when you’ve achieved material satisfaction?”
Snake shifted, brown gold colors allured,
light reflected rainbows upon its back,
twisted, turned, shifting kaleidoscope,
flashed images, a moving mirror.
Grey cloud hid the sun,
serpent went under cover.
Spell of majesty broken;
again recognized world lived in
where education,
fitted one for life’s competition;
necessity is survival,
no space to answer “what for”?
See no future for this boy,
qualifications only fitting for toil,
until return to soil.
“Look up! there’s an eagle!”
© Phil Kemp 2026
