Toad and Snake

[lone_thrift]

Farmer Allen sincerely flagged a
spade foot’s burrow
to avoid tractor tilling under
the huge and humble toad.

That orange, stately flag
I passed by many times
before this previous
day’s noon when then
a motion near the banner
led my vision
to where one massive toad
wore thy high
a garter snake of equally
impressive size.

Amphibian and reptile
locked slow and strong
in a battle of niether’s gain-
each pull, push and roll was
for one
a fantastic and lasting meal
or the other
its dearest, shiny eyed life.

Horrible gestures of
smooth and warted writhing
commenced in length
held me by spell ‘til
snake laboriously managed
to drag big toad to the
narrow, dark isles in
nearby straw bales
where the struggle ensued
out of my vision
in the privacy of shadows.

I went back to work
in the hazy, quiet afternoon…

What became of this wrestling?
Did peaceful toad manage free?
Did clever serpent slay her hunger?

My ponderment took me
through dusk and into the moonrise
till morning’s light and birds
awoke me.

Perhaps from a dream.
I heard the gruff ghost
of Bodhidharma speak:

“Struggles of nature
often ensue in the shadows.
Your questions
are not necessary”