The Mongoose and the Cobra
One of nature's dealiest battles...77 total reviews
Comment from BunnyS
You may be watching too much Animal Planet but we all get to reap the benefits of your addiction. If the story of the two characters wasn't such a grim one, this would be the perfect children's poem.
The way the poem is written around the pictures is perfectly done, like that in a children's poem book. It reminded me of one of the poems in the Shel Silverstein series. My youngest LOVES his work and I have read many of those books over and over to him. Now, he reads them to himself... (it's so sad when they grow up)
Anyway, it made me think of one of those books, where the poem and the illustrations are so perfectly meshed. You did a really nice job!
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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You may be watching too much Animal Planet but we all get to reap the benefits of your addiction. If the story of the two characters wasn't such a grim one, this would be the perfect children's poem.
The way the poem is written around the pictures is perfectly done, like that in a children's poem book. It reminded me of one of the poems in the Shel Silverstein series. My youngest LOVES his work and I have read many of those books over and over to him. Now, he reads them to himself... (it's so sad when they grow up)
Anyway, it made me think of one of those books, where the poem and the illustrations are so perfectly meshed. You did a really nice job!
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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Thanks, Bunny, and that's such a wonderful compliment. I used to read those books to my own kids as they were going up. Now, at 20 & 17 respectively, I can't get them to read the instructions on a can of soup, LOL...
I really appreciate the kind review. :)
Comment from boxergirl
Rikki Tikki Tavi, one of my favorite short stories to teach my seventh graders back in the day. Great job, Dean, with your poem about the mongoose and the snake. I especially liked the rhyming dialogue. 8-)
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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Rikki Tikki Tavi, one of my favorite short stories to teach my seventh graders back in the day. Great job, Dean, with your poem about the mongoose and the snake. I especially liked the rhyming dialogue. 8-)
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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Thanks so much, boxergirl, and I apologize for the delayed response. It's been really crazy for me on the publishing front lately!
I appreciate your review very much! :)
Comment from Allezw2
True, in general, the cobra's strike is slow compared to the pit viper's. The mongoose is too aware of the threat presented by the snake's fangs. Interestingly, one of the cobra's defenses is to turn its hood away from its attacker. The mongoose has to grab the body near the head and the extended hood prevents that tactic. If the mongoose attacks the snake's body, it is vulnerable to a strike when the snake turns its head.
Nicely done,
Fantasist
It has always intrigued me how these wildlife photographers can "happen upon" these life and death scenarios. The most memorable was a snapping turtle/cotton mouth face off. The snapping turtle clamped down on the snake's tail. The cotton mouth struck at the turtle though was unable to penetrate the carapace or find a vulnerable spot to envenom. It was a standoff until the turtle released the snake which quickly retreated.
reply by the author on 05-Sep-2014
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True, in general, the cobra's strike is slow compared to the pit viper's. The mongoose is too aware of the threat presented by the snake's fangs. Interestingly, one of the cobra's defenses is to turn its hood away from its attacker. The mongoose has to grab the body near the head and the extended hood prevents that tactic. If the mongoose attacks the snake's body, it is vulnerable to a strike when the snake turns its head.
Nicely done,
Fantasist
It has always intrigued me how these wildlife photographers can "happen upon" these life and death scenarios. The most memorable was a snapping turtle/cotton mouth face off. The snapping turtle clamped down on the snake's tail. The cotton mouth struck at the turtle though was unable to penetrate the carapace or find a vulnerable spot to envenom. It was a standoff until the turtle released the snake which quickly retreated.
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 05-Sep-2014
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Thanks very much for your outstanding rating and complimentary review, Allez2. I also appreciate the story of the cottonmouth and turtle. I may just use that some time in the future, with your blessing, of course.
Thanks so much again. I truly appreciate it. :)
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You're quite welcome. I never could quite believe Kipling's Rikki-Tiki-Tavi holding onto the cobra's tail as it tried to escape down the burrow.
The incident I mentioned was a feature on some nature program an age ago so it is certainly in the public domain by now.
There are almost certainly similar events on YouTube, that most unusually eclectic venue.
The wildest scene I was personally involved with was when a rattler was found on our back doorstep. I took a shovel and cut it into pieces until it was immobilized, striking at the blade all the while. I buried the head then draped the three-foot carcass over the top wire of our barbed wire yard fence and sat down to watch. Shortly after, a hawk made a flyby. It then returned and snatched the snake off the wire and flew away.
I have seen films where the birds will take a snake off the ground, carry it aloft and drop it a long way down onto a hard surface from a height. It will continue that until the snake is dead. Then it is torn to pieces to feed the young and the parents. We did not mind the black or garter snakes running around in the farm buildings, but drew the line at a rattler. You always had to be careful when lifting any kind of ground cover. A tarp covering a stack of fire wood or lumber was always prime hunting ground for them. They could readily climb into cabinets well above head high, too. So caution was always necessary.
In the SW Pacific, raptors routinely predate sea snakes swimming on the surface, too.
Fantasist
Comment from Linda Engel
Kipling would have been proud. very good story telling in poetic verse, great artwork. Wonder if the schools even read the classic stories any more. Shame if they don't.
reply by the author on 05-Sep-2014
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Kipling would have been proud. very good story telling in poetic verse, great artwork. Wonder if the schools even read the classic stories any more. Shame if they don't.
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 05-Sep-2014
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I hope so, Linda. The kids are really missing out on some great stories if they don't.
Thanks for the review. :)
Comment from Sasha
The cobra scares the be-jiebers out of me but there is a very large black snake in Australia that has been known to kill an entire family in their sleep...now that's creepy. You did a marvelous job with this one and your imagery was strong and terrific. Great work. I enjoyed this very much.
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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The cobra scares the be-jiebers out of me but there is a very large black snake in Australia that has been known to kill an entire family in their sleep...now that's creepy. You did a marvelous job with this one and your imagery was strong and terrific. Great work. I enjoyed this very much.
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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Thanks so much, Smurphgirlsasha, and I really appreciate your kind comments and review.:)
Comment from Jacqueline M Franklin
Hi Dean,
Great story. You could have a point -- about watching too much 'Animal Planet', though, when you start writing stories about the great battle. However, like Detective Sergeant Joe Friday would say, "Just state the facts, ma'am." As in your case, 'Sir.' (*-*)
Interesting, how the mongoose can outsmart the cobra.
Many, many years ago when I worked in a supermarket I checked out many critters. An iguana, ferrets, and puppies snuck inside purses, BUT, I drew the line at a snake,(Boa), which happened to be wrapped around the 'B_ _ _head's' neck. Boa should have kept squeezing! I threw my hands in the air and walked away from my register. My boss and colleagues, however, found it to be quite humorous! My boss told the guy not to bring the snake back, but of course, B_ _ _ head did.
The next day, I grabbed my wet towel that I always kept at my register so I could keep the conveyor belt wiped clean, and WHAMO, sneaky-snake,(rubber snake)fell out of said wet towel. Yep - they all laughed - again - at my expense. It's nice to be so well liked. B_ _ _ head came back in, but didn't come through my line. DUH, go figure!
Fun read, buckeye.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'.... Jax (*-*)
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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Hi Dean,
Great story. You could have a point -- about watching too much 'Animal Planet', though, when you start writing stories about the great battle. However, like Detective Sergeant Joe Friday would say, "Just state the facts, ma'am." As in your case, 'Sir.' (*-*)
Interesting, how the mongoose can outsmart the cobra.
Many, many years ago when I worked in a supermarket I checked out many critters. An iguana, ferrets, and puppies snuck inside purses, BUT, I drew the line at a snake,(Boa), which happened to be wrapped around the 'B_ _ _head's' neck. Boa should have kept squeezing! I threw my hands in the air and walked away from my register. My boss and colleagues, however, found it to be quite humorous! My boss told the guy not to bring the snake back, but of course, B_ _ _ head did.
The next day, I grabbed my wet towel that I always kept at my register so I could keep the conveyor belt wiped clean, and WHAMO, sneaky-snake,(rubber snake)fell out of said wet towel. Yep - they all laughed - again - at my expense. It's nice to be so well liked. B_ _ _ head came back in, but didn't come through my line. DUH, go figure!
Fun read, buckeye.
Cheers & Blessings
Keep Smilin'.... Jax (*-*)
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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Ha ha, that's a great terror tale, Jax, and thanks for sharing that. They thought they'd pull one over on you, huh? It's amazing how many people are petrified of snakes. I own an albino boa named Delilah. She's six years old, about 15 feet long, with beautiful orange markings. As a matter of fact, she is lovingly wrapped around my neck as I write this reply.
My wife won't allow her in our house because of the small dogs we own. I keep her at her uncle's house usually, and on the days she visits, like today, she goes right back into the 55 gallon aquarium I have for her on our additional sun room out back. She's very tame, but she's also a wild animal with natural predatory instincts, and I fully realize that.
Thanks for the review. I really appreciate it! :)
Go Bucks!!!
Comment from jim lawler
I just loved this little tale; illustrations are perfect, very professional. I have no recommendations, it needs no edit or revisions; it's the finished product. Good luck Dean, I hope you win, this little satire tells me you have a foot in the door! Jim Lawler
reply by the author on 05-Sep-2014
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I just loved this little tale; illustrations are perfect, very professional. I have no recommendations, it needs no edit or revisions; it's the finished product. Good luck Dean, I hope you win, this little satire tells me you have a foot in the door! Jim Lawler
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 05-Sep-2014
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Thanks so much, Jim, I really appreciate the six stars and very complimentary review, my friend. This one is not entered into any contest, just posted it for fun. I'm really glad that you enjoyed it! :)
Comment from Kaila Mari
A real work of art in the writing word. You have managed to incorporate all poetical format and structure into your well told poetical free verse poem. I really like your use of alliteration, consonant and assonance. Your free verse poem follows the line structure in the form of quatrains with rhyming couplets. Exceptional work as usual.
reply by the author on 05-Sep-2014
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A real work of art in the writing word. You have managed to incorporate all poetical format and structure into your well told poetical free verse poem. I really like your use of alliteration, consonant and assonance. Your free verse poem follows the line structure in the form of quatrains with rhyming couplets. Exceptional work as usual.
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 05-Sep-2014
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Thanks so much, Kaila, I truly appreciate the exceptional rating and your very kind comments. :)
Comment from livelylinda
Dean: Yes, indeed, Rudyard Kipling would be proud but so am I. An entire animal world lecture which taught me a few things I didn't know about mongoose and cobras, all within a delightful rhyming poem written with your talents. I'm impressed as always. Linda
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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Dean: Yes, indeed, Rudyard Kipling would be proud but so am I. An entire animal world lecture which taught me a few things I didn't know about mongoose and cobras, all within a delightful rhyming poem written with your talents. I'm impressed as always. Linda
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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Thanks a bunch, Linda. I'm truly glad that you enjoyed it. :)
Comment from sweetwoodjax
this is an excellent write, dean. I always loved the mongoose saving the baby from the snake story and you've told a poetic tale of the mongoose fighting to feed his family
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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this is an excellent write, dean. I always loved the mongoose saving the baby from the snake story and you've told a poetic tale of the mongoose fighting to feed his family
Comment Written 02-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 06-Sep-2014
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Thanks so much for your kind comments, sweetwoodjax. I really appreciate it. :)
