Snake on a Rock in the Sun

The snake on the rock under 

the waterfall didn't even flinch when 

I approached, unknowing

Sun bathing and ready to slip into the pool

At any sign of attack

The only thing that changed was my seeing it

Black and yellow and curved

A foot from my foot and I wondered

Where its most recent skin was

Could I find it on my walk away from this

new shiny thing, this thing that was comfortable 

to take in the heat 

and not even acknowledge my presence?

Could I find its old dry snake body shell to take with me 

as a memento 

of this being I couldn't get close enough to know 

-- a colorless idea of a thing, a smaller husk, 

but I could have held it at least, 

and it wouldn't have bit back

I stood on that rock staring up at the fall

Four full minutes before seeing the snake's body

We surveyed the forest together, hardness beneath 

Our soft parts, shared experience created only in

Acknowledgement, recognition

Of sun and water and our own stillness

Both afraid but still --we couldn't help it--

shining

Christie Flemming