If one were to envision this poem one might be able to perceive the authors thoughts
             and fears. I believe the purpose of this poem was to portray a common fear and
             metaphorically explain why something so familiar in our society is impossible to accept.
             Obviously the snake is the main topic in this poem, but not a literal snake, a
             metaphorical snake. A snake almost anyone can recognize, the snake that sneaks up on
             us when we least expect it, when we are extremely vulnerable, the snake of fear and
             The author makes some references to the snake as weapons of violence. I find this
             interesting, is she implying the snakes of the world are weapons? Does she have a
             strong disgust for violence? The first time occurs in line 6, a spotted shaft is seen. When
             I heard the word shaft I thought of what it is most commonly referred to as, the handle
             of an arrow or spear. Then again in line 13, have passed, I thought, a whip-lash she
             As I said previously, anyone can distinguish this snake. Its characteristics are
             unmistakable but deceitful. The sly and mysterious image can be portrayed in the second
             stanza. I think there is very clever imagery in line 11,yet when a child, and barefoot, it
             depicts how evil the snake is and exaggerates the vulnerability of the child because he
             has no shoes or socks. It makes me wonder, if the child she is referring to, somehow
             represents man-kind and are we very vulnerable to the snakes of life?
             It took me a while to determine what the last two stanzas meant, but I believe in the first
             stanza, the speaker is trying to stress the fact that she is extremely close and loves all
             nature, but in the last stanza she contrasts it, and intensely exhibits her inability to
             accept the love for this one, simple, creature.
             ...