King Cobra and I

I startled you as you lay dreaming With burnished scales and body gleaming Upon an ochre sunny, sandy bank Contrasting with your elongated flank You rose with quick-silvery motion Without sound or needless commotion And spread wide your captivating hood While in awe gazing, mesmerized I stood You flicked your fork tongue at me testing Simultaneously threatening and protesting Swaying to your primeval ancient dance As I stood rooted in admiring transfixed trance You tasted once again my human essence While I in turn took in your luminescence And then with an imperceptible low hiss You vanished, leaving me in humbled bliss