Snake, or: Feathered Serpent

Posted on by ben Alexander

Poetry Partners #1

A poem by Murisopsis of ‘A Different Perspective’

I carry a heavy burden
Everyone I’ve ever met sits
Friend and enemy alike
crowded on my back
I wish I could shed them
Wiggle out of this skin
Snagged on adversity
And leave them behind
Be free enough to fly
Even so
They are
Part of
Who I am
Freed from this old dull dry skin
I am still a snake tempted
To eat the bird
I wish to become

A poem by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

     Wisdom and deep learning; your
words that move the sun, wind, and air;
flap those majestic, feathered wings,
     Quetzalcoatl, Creator;
     scales sparkling with perceptive
          perspectives, shifting into the wind, mighty
          Ehécatl; lifting, yes, carrying with care,
               gloriously shining, Morning
               Star, Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli, glowing
          over the resplendent quetzals, spider
          monkeys, rattlesnakes and men,
               looking to you for understanding (who
               wouldn’t?), but your words,
          forms are limitless, Feathered
          Serpent; your holy narrative, flowing,
     twisting tail; come, ground yourself in human
     body that men may know your love; but conch wind
jewel an eternal reminder that life, health, crafts;
these, but rich facets of your being; your 
     true burden, concern

Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!

List of Poetry Partners

45 thoughts on “Snake, or: Feathered Serpent”

  1. Quetzalcoatl’s “cult” defies common understanding. Even a casual visitor cannot escape the impression that the progress of Mayan culture through their architecture and art is obvious …. Then why did this advanced culture worship a snake, the snake that, by the way, ridiculed us many times?

    The spring equinox is a very special event for the Kukulkan pyramid in Chichen Itza. On this very day, it is possible to watch the descent of Kukulkan down one of the steps on the pyramid. What is revealed on this day is how seven triangles were projected on the staircase, with the aim of creating the appearance of snake scales, whose head is a statue at the bottom of the pyramid steps.

    This phenomenon cannot but inspire the poet. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Great poems! I especially liked
    ” ground yourself in human
    body that men may know your love; but conch wind
    jewel an eternal reminder that life,”

    And
    “Freed from this old dull dry skin
    I am still a snake tempted
    To eat the bird
    I wish to become” from the poem of Muriopsis. 😀

    And btw, I’ve come up with my own poetic form(or perhaps it already exists, I figured it out myself 😅),called a syllabilite:

    https://theforgersoffantasy.art.blog/2021/11/01/poetrythe-immortal-tree/

  4. Both forms are so different but they conjure vivid pictures in the mind.
    A creative, touching, and majestic take on the serpent. It really can be portrayed in so many ways.
    Thoughts and words bond to deliver beauty. 🙂

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