Recently, I met a blogger dedicated to educating folks about snakes and lizards. That inspired me to tell you about Eagle and me meeting snakes in Milwaukee.
When we went to the Schlitz Audubon Center last month, as we entered the building, a volunteer was holding a snake. She turned, greeted us and asked, “Would you like to hold a snake?”
My first thought was, “No, thank you.” The person next to me was braver. Eagle accepted the challenge, learning to hold out their hands, palms up to receive the snake. As they held the serpent, I touched its scales. They were soft. First Eagle held a gopher snake, then a rosy boa.
When I touched the boa’s side, it felt like I was caressing glass beads on a necklace. After that, I wanted to hold the snake. I extended my hands and the naturalist lowered the boa onto them. The snake was calm, she wriggled a bit but slowly, and kept leaning toward Eagle, preferring their company! The snake was all muscle, I could feel her flex against my hand. I held the boa for at least five minutes.
My first Flamenca poem, to describe my novel experience. Preview of the form for next week’s poetry challenge. I included six lines below, I’ve discovered it should be five.
If a serpent were placed
in my two outstretched hands
would I scream, recoil
or would she enchant me
her undulating beads
curving through my fingers?
– Rebecca Cuningham 12/3/21
Just the facts: Gopher snakes are native to Wisconsin, Rosy Boas are native to the Southwestern US and Mexico. Both are non-poisonous.
How do you feel about snakes and lizards? You can visit Dawn Renee at Lizard Planet to learn more about our lizard friends!
Thanks for stopping by today! ¡Olé! –Rebecca
This post celebrates Six Word Saturday.
#6WS
Fake Flamenco 
These positive experiences are ones I’m unlikely to experience, as we have few snakes, and only the very elusive adder is poisonous. But I’ve just been reading about flamenca poems (love yours!) and am looking forward to joining in.
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And I thought Black Adder was just a TV program. 😉 Good for you, already studying Flamenca poems! Glad you liked my first attempt. The December challenge themes will be the solstice, equinox and change of seasons; I know you like a bit of time before the deadline. This is your early hint, Poets. 🙂
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Phew … thanks
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I have always wanted to touch snakes!! Thankyou for sharing this experience ❤
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Hope you can at a nature center near you. : ) My pleasure, thanks for your comments!
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Snakes give me heebie jeebies!
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Have you had bad experiences with snakes in the house? That might do it for me, unless I was sure they weren’t poisonous!
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I think it’s a reaction which is born out of myth rather than reality. Just inherent fear without reason!
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Sadje, I think it may be hard wired into our brains. Before this, I hadn’t touched a snake in years. My brave teen showed me I had nothing to fear in this case.
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Yes, you’re absolutely right Rebecca. A fear of snakes in inculcated in us from childhood. I have no idea if a snake is poisonous or not.
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Yes, I’m afraid of snakes, Rebecca.
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I think it’s a healthy, species protective fear. That said, they are an important part of the ecosystems where they live, so I hope they will survive.
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If I know a snake isn’t poisonous, I’m fine with them. I was interested reading how the snake felt. Haven’t ever heard of that poetry form but I enjoyed your poem.
janet
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Thanks, Janet. I agree, it helps to know it’s not poisonous! Glad you liked my Flamenca poem, thanks.
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Good for you for trying it, Rebecca! We lived in Thailand for some years, and there are many poisonous snakes there, none that I was anxious to try holding. Lol
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Yikes, poisonous snakes I’d want to avoid! Sounds interesting to live in Thailand, though. 🙂
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No, I still can’t relate to snakes or handle them. I did lose some of my initial fear of the snake after reading D.H. Lawrence’s poem but that just gave me a new way of looking at it, I’m still scared and won’t even go to the reptile house in a Zoo.
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Thanks for your comments, Mari. I have lived in places with very few venemous snakes for most of my life. I am open to holding small snakes. I think that fearing snakes is a phobia that makes a lot of sense, especially places where there dangerous ones in the wild.
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Not for me.
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Thanks, Rupali. I can respect that.
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You were open-minded. Good for you! I am definitely frightened if I see a big one in the woods, but there are mostly just garter snakes around here. Where I grew up, I was afraid of copperheads.
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Thanks, helped to have my teen’s encouragement. Gartner snakes can be surprising when they suddenly move in the grass and startle me, but at least they’re good little rodent eaters. Copperheads might not seem as friendly, since they are venemous.
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Oh Rebecca!! I am honored! You have brought tears to my eyes. Thank you. Thank you so much for this. People have have left such kind comments saying that Murph and I have changed their views, and literally thanked us for showing them that these beings are beautiful and sentient!
But, this – to see a beautiful person’s mind toward reptiles having been changed this way, and read your words is beyond wonderful! I never thought someone would show proof, and say, “You and Murph helped make this happen.” I simply can’t thank you enough. May we, in turn, share this post and link to your site?
“Caressing glass beads on a necklace” is the perfect simile! Look at you, you look like a natural!! : ) That you held sweet Rosy Boa for more than five minutes is so neat to know. They do feel amazing! They seem so strong yet fragile simultaneously. I love and love the Flamenco poem!
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Thanks, Dawn Renee. I would be honored for you to share the post!
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