The Snake

a poem by Nandita Pai

Volleyball, I was playing,
With my friends one day.
When the ball went off into the marshes,
Beside the house where I stay.
Making a face of disgust,
I ran to fetch the ball.
The slippery floor beneath me,
Almost made me fall.
I tiptoed across the marshes,
To where the ball was.
To my horror beside the ball lay a snake,
As green as moss.
Terrified by the sight,
I couldn’t move an inch.
By a slight movement of the snake,
Beneath my feet I felt a pinch.
The moss-green snake,
At me it intently glared.
I shivered from head to toe,
As I was really scared.
For a few long seconds,
We were in that same pose.
The snake glaring at me,
And I standing quite close.
For the snake to go away,
I made hopeful wishes.
When finally the slimy snake,
Slithered behind the bushes.