How to paint a striking Rinkhals

Green knee high grass
paves, covers the veldt

making the snake's hideout
its place from where it sails.

First observe the snake
sneaking from the grass

while it passes camouflaged
to the next shade

or lies turned over
as if dead, showing its stomach

enticing you to pass, or to come near
to investigate,

maybe you'll see the stripes
ringing its neck

in colours of cream
or something near to white

or maybe you may not
when in terror astounded

to whoever looks
it flashes alive

like a lightning rod
with death sizzling out of its mouth

and if you can paint this
you have the essence of it,

making terror alive,
in a snake which looks placid

but which can spit and strike
carrying death as far as it goes.

[Rinkhals: Spitting African Cobra.]

poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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