~The Mongoose and the Cobra~


The plains of Southern India, a fine venue for a fight;
in one corner lurks the cobra, displaying all her might.
The other, a gray mongoose— hungry, on the prowl,
the cobra's hiss is meant to scare, she opens up her cowl...

 

“You may as well quit now, my friend, and die with dignity,”

The wily mongoose bears his fangs and speaks with brevity.

“I know your venom kills most men, but I'm immune to it.”

Yet, in response the serpent coils, her answer, poisoned spit.



 

“You think you'll make a meal of me,” the slinky serpent asks?

“You're far too slow for me, I know, why tackle such a task?

And if you've come to find a fight you've sure found one in me.

So turn back now, while you still can accept my charity.”


 

The mongoose would have none of it, his family needed food,

he'd tackled snakes like this before, the nature of his brood,

with lightning speed, lithe mongoose lunged, and struck the deadly blow;

Tho' bitten twice, his teeth tore thrice, subduing fanged foe.


 

The mongoose pups ate well that night, while serpents eggs sat cold,

the animal kingdom, with frightful tales, have stories often told,

of how the fearless mongoose braves the vipers poisoned fangs,

while many cobra's hatchlings sit enduring hunger pangs.