By the light of the moon,
The snakes escaped
From Sinister’s zoo.
The big one said
“We have things to do”
But the little one wanted
Something to chew.
“There’s a warm air vent
Across the room;
Won’t you bask under the
Big, round moon”?
The big snake pleaded and wheedled
And conceded at last
To accomplish the little one’s
Desired task.
They squirmed under rugs
And wove around chairs;
They would settle for bugs
Before going back to their lairs!
But there! Sticking out from under a cushion
In the pale moon’s light,
The little one’s scales gave a shiver of
Hungry delight.
Some strange new creature
Thought itself safe from her teeth
So silently slithering
She attacked from beneath!
The big snake was sleepy from exploring all night
But just as he began dozing away
Something gave him a fright
His poor tail became prey.
While the little one lacked
The advantage of size
She had never been known to give up
On her prize.
With her unknowing teeth
Latched onto the bigger snake’s tail
He whipped the small snake around
Like a leaf in a gale.
“I’ll show this intruder
Just who makes the rules!”
And he shot out to consume her;
Eyes glittering like jewels.
When the sun shook the sky
To rouse it from sleep,
The Keeper returned
And heard nary a peep.
She found her snakes vanished
And a strange tear in the couch.
Down on the floor something glimmered
So she bent into a crouch.
A collection of scales
Caught the first rays of sun
Torn from their tails
When their little adventure had ceased to be fun.
No other trace of the snakes
Has ever been found;
Just a tear in the couch and some scales
On the ground.
It’s thought that the snakes,
So determined were they,
Managed to eat one another
In their misguided fray.
LESSON: Know the difference between an enemy and a misguided friend.
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