After the fall, or Herpetology 101

James L. Littlefield

“Honey, I asked her,

Have you seen the snake?”

Quickly awakened

out of slumber’s rest

she shrilly shrieked, then

jumping out of bed

anxiously replied, 

“I nearly died the

last time when I awoke

with that serpent

upon my shoulder.

I’d wish you were

more feared of snakes.

This only makes me older.”

To this I replied, 

“Bubba merely wants

a warm place nearby

to thaw his bones

and keep from getting colder.”

“That’s fine for a damned snake”

she quickly cried, and

then becoming bolder

“As for me, don’t bother.”

With rising voice, “You

have no choice.

That serpent’s gone

or I’m going back to mother.”

She’s Eve. And so, I knew 

that threat was hollow. 

Yet, since the boys were

not yet grown, and who knew

what might follow,

I caught the snake, and

threw him out to show

to her, a demonstration 

of hell’s road now paved

with my good intention.

With Eve now calm,

And the serpent gone,

we now jumped back 

into the sack and 

with some elation

resumed God’s given task

of humanity’s creation.