THE SNAKE
©2009 Robert Burnham
The sun came out last night and the snake spoke to me. He explained to me that he knew how cruel life had been to me. He told me he felt all of my sufferings. How all the ladies conspired against me, how authorities exploited me, how my own family turned away and how God would hide Himself from me and my perfect allegations that it was all His fault. The serpent slithered closer, raised his sleek head up and stared me in the eyes and told me that he had been the only one who ever cared for me. The only one who really understood all the trials and persecutions set upon me by an evil, unjust world, a world that hated my very existence. The snake assured me that my sins and my shortcomings were not my fault but yours, and his – and hers. Wrapping his coils around me in a gesture of affectionate protection, he said ‘I am your comforter, your darling; follow me’. I said nothing, but I watched his forked tongue as I petted his head and soon, the snake, he fell asleep in my arms, content that I had accepted him as my lord and savior. He knew how convincing he could be. But at some point during the long, arduous night, I wrestled with him. In the morning I opened my eyes and the snake lay dead at my feet. For in all his bravado he proved nothing more than a liar and the father of all lies. Over my morning fire I seared and ate his flesh. The repentance he had offered me was damnation. My repentance would come from another source, from a tree on a hill. The snake was no more
'you knew i was a snake when you picked me up'
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Comments: 50
That was WELL DONE, Robert.
Well written and fabulously executed.
Your sis
loved this!! although, i'm afraid of snakes.
loved this pea 1! made me think
Amazing dear Robert. My brother!
This is for you
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977750203
reclaiming life
Including the most of the Christians that I know of ...
good point. the devil wears many faces...and the most unexpected ones are the most deadly.
Wisdom is about knowing that threats to our faith can come under many guises. Sometimes the ones we love most dearly can hurt us the most deeply.
We're all aware of pastors who have evil agendas. While being watchful is wise, we are cautioned not to judge. Removing the logs from our own eyes first helps us help remove the splinter from another's.
Thank you for posting to The Surreal Circus.
MyHotComments
So... what seasonings go with seared snake?
What a lovely sentiment ye have here!
Thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting
So you see, analytically,
We search for transcendental unity.
Meanwhile, reacting to our precepts
Thinking life has purpose in our decepts.
So we search for standards and moral gods,
Translating raison d' etre with winks and nods.
Embarking on journeys of the mind
Deluding ourselves with ego's find,
Until we reach the final gate
Hopefully believing in a heavenly fate.
Nice writing!
I've been writing since I retired 3yrs. ago. Before that My wife, Linda and I wandered over the land, never "sticking moer than 4 yrs at a time. I think I've had about 40 different jobs...from art galleries, airlines, ambulances to warehouses and selling to the Zunis in New Mexico. You seem to be a wanderer, too.
Writing and photography have been my lifelong companion. They go away for awhile, they come back.
I appreciate the compliments you have paid me and like a few others on Gather, your comments tend to carry a lot of substance to me.
Growing Up Maine
:+)