I was always fascinated by the poem Snake by DH Lawrence …” I snake came to my water-trough to drink …on a hot hot day ..”
SNAKE STORY : ONE
I once visited a friend of mine, who was an MK soldier during the Apartheid War in South Africa.. He had killed several Afrikaner soldiers, carrying these memories with him, like a heavy necklace.
Early one Sunday morning, I was relaxing after breakfast whilst he was working in the garden. Suddenly the dogs jumped up from the kitchen floor at the exact moment I heard a hiss. They went wild. I calmly walked out, knowing it was a snake coming to visit.
He looked at me, saying “It is a snake”. I replied, “Snakes come to heal.” He went into the kitchen to drink a glass of water, drinking as if it was a potion, exactly like the snake in DH Lawrence’s poem. Immediately he fell into a snoring sleep, on the couch. The dogs now calm, but alert.
I returned to my room to meditate. In a vision, I saw Afrikaner soldiers who waved & smiled. I felt relieved & thankful. When he woke, he looked relieved too. He was forgiven & had forgiven himself. The dragging necklace evaporated.
SNAKE STORY : TWO
I once lived on a smallholding in McGregor, Southern Cape with my youngest daughter. The farm housed many small harmless snakes who did not bother us.
It was here that I saw the longest snake ever, longer than any I had seen either in reserves or snake parks. My daughter was home whilst I went shopping at nearby Robertson. It was a hot dry day, typical of a Small Karoo summer day. Reluctantly I had left her alone, to complete homework. I shopped quickly, then drove as fast as I could, feeling a call to be home.
Midway between the village, McGregor, and town, Robertson, a golden coloured otherworldly snake slithered across the hot tar road, in front of the car, its body stretching from one end of the pavement to the other side. It’s greenish aura, mesmerising. My foot slow-motioned to the brake, as it turned its triangular head. It was gone like a phantom, into the bush of the opposite nature reserve. I stopped the car to catch my breath, feeling strangely invigorated & calm. A great sense of peace enveloped my beingness. The memory of DH Lawrence’s “Snake” filled my blood with pink happiness.
It’s message was clear : there was no need to be fearful of leaving anybody alone. On arriving home I told my pre-teen that I had just seen the longest snake ever. She merely looked at me grinning, “So ? Did she bite you ?”
Off I stomped to the kitchen to prepare sandwiches fit for a golden serpent !