Roger, I live in reptile heaven.
We're known, of course, for our giant gators,
the least of which are at least seven
feet, the big ones, Mr. Slater,
can be five yards or even longer.
I don't believe I've seen one smile;
their charm is slight, their swagger stronger.
Winning friends is not their style.
My yard's a haven for several snakes
who snooze amid the ferns and grass
and wrap themselves around (like fakes)
the irrigation hoses--pass
themselves off as garden accessesories.
The lizards are especially welcome guests:
they're absolutely necessary
for getting rid of West Nile pests.
A couple of them became quite bold
and moved into my house one time.
Chameleons both, their blood was cold,
but their personalities sublime.
One in particular won my heart
by setting up its new domain
on my lovely old Victorian tea cart.
Over the months, it became quite tame.
With a fountain for water and a plant light
for sunning, and some bugs for a snack,
it moved with ease from dull to bright
to brown to green and then right back.
But kittens moved in and I had to spare
my reptile friends an awful fate.
I rescued them with loving care
when I knew we could no longer wait.
The one who had designer knack
has had a comedown, I'm sad to say,
and now lives in a peat moss sack--
I saw it just the other day.
[This message has been edited by Diane Dees (edited June 06, 2004).]
|