Exquisitely Majestic

I was confronted by a very large cobra at Courtalum falls in Southern India and this poem was written about that experience

Exquisitely Majestic

 

Drawn by the same beauty we drew near each other

Rainbow hues in response to the sun

Shimmering colours dancing in the waterfall

A constant light spray combating the heat

Engrossed in the splendour I sat cross legged

On beautiful rocks being shaped by the fall

We should have passed each other without fuss or call

Had it not been for the stampede that stunned us together

Confronted by fear we stared at each other

Our eyes locked, you stood tall, every inch of my height

 

Mesmerised by awesome hood and piercing eyes

They swore I swayed to keep up your rhythm

The move was yours, awaited by death

My stillness dissolving your fear governed strike.

Screaming again they watched in terror

Our heads nearly touching, we communed on in silence

Assurance by stillness our fear steadily abated

You gracefully descended and slithered away

Exquisitely majestic you took on the colours

Leaving the waterfall dreadfully pale

 

Emboldened by the retreating form

They chased you hard with sticks and stones

Your lightning speed misjudged the track

You fell into a manmade crack

Fear gripped your little pounding heart

You hid your head beneath a leaf

Unaware your imposing length stretched out

Full view of your pusillanimous killers

 

Your beauty gone would empty leave

The earth with all its co-dependent splendour

Creatures that do not harm for pleasure

Teach human life to learn and measure

Never let fear and hate choose strife

I pleaded knowing you spared my life

To let you free to work your days

Fulfilling mine in many ways.

 

 

Nirmala            

Reviews

[...]

... wow ... that's quite an encounter ... and this verse is quite a verse ... exquisitely crafted ... amazing narration ... tremendous flow ... phenomenal end ... that last stanza says so much ... the lines ... "creatures that do not harm for pleasure" ... "teach human life to learn and measure" are very memorable ... exceptional poetry ... and as is obvious ... it's exceptional poetry from an exceptionally sensitive human being ... a 100 ... for this spectacular verse ...

[mrityunjay]

Congratulations! Serah's review of your verse, along with a link to your verse, was featured in our online poetry magazine on a blog called "The Fourth Dimension Blog". It is read by several hundred Indian poets who write in English. (Details in your message inbox)

[E. A. Fielder]

I love how adventurous some of your poems are! they have such a climactic build to them and a subtle soft end. I see you are very moved by nature, it's very powerful and very moving. Well done!

[Christina May Shanaberg]

I really enjoyed reading this poem; so, I read it several times. I never read such a touching poem about a snake, before. It was a very visual poem and I feel as though I was looking through the heart and eyes of the writer. Excellent, simply excellent.