Fascinated people watch a cobra
swaying before them to the sound
of the snake charmer’s instruments.
He is deemed a hypnotist and a brave magician
to be able to mesmerize so dangerous a creature.
Using his special pipe -the pungi -
he guides the snake in a magical dance.
Money is collected from an audience
who feels they have witnessed enchantment.
The snake charmer has done his job,
but he did not charm any snakes.
Prior to his show,
his dangerous cobra had been torn
from its natural habitat.
Its fangs were ripped mercilessly
from the creature’s mouth -
a mouth which then was sewn almost entirely shut
so that no harm could ever befall
the “brave” magician!
As snakes have no real ability to hear,
the instruments in place present a grand illusion.
The dance is that of a terrorized reptile
swaying to avoid being struck by the pungi -
which it perceives to be a weapon.
Those not privy to these secrets have been duped.
The snake is anything but charmed.
Its awful death will be
slow and certain.
Jan. 8, 2022
For the Snake Charmer Poetry Contest of Kai Michael Neumann
Used March 26 for 'A BRIAN STRAND 1097' Poetry Contest
Categories:
pungi, people,
Form: Free verse
As the blind-man holds out his bowl
the twisted form of beggar child
shouts out, shouts out, "please, SIR, please SIR."
"Come closer, come and hear my words;
I will for only one Rupee
age-old legends to you recite."
In the distance; far, far, I hear
distant Pungi swaying slowly
jarring, shrill, loud, hypnotising.
Moving my head towards the sound
mesmerising, I turn to leave.
"Don't go, don't go," says beggar child.
Singing; mournful, so sweet, so low;
"Creator, what was in your mind
that so made you create this world?"
Blind man begins to chant, I stop.
"just one Rupee please, SIR, please SIR."
Singing? Pungi? I sway, I swerve.
Between the two, the charmer wins.
Slither, slither towards the sound.
Not one Rupee for beggar child.
The Snake Charmer Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Kai Michael Neumann
Date wrote: 3rd January 2022
Categories:
pungi, 10th grade, 11th grade,
Form: Blank verse
Snakecharmer
works his magic,
flirts with danger...
pungi-playin'
King Cobra...
hypnotized,
dances to submission
Paint A Picture - 7 Lines - Poetry Contest (Winner: 1st Place)
Sponsored by Joseph May
Date written: 09/24/2020
Categories:
pungi, imagery,
Form: Verse