Ophiciophobia Poem by Sonny Rainshine

He was not born with ophiciophobia,
the fear of snakes, but
the swamps of Louisiana
hiss in the sun with crawly things.

You have to learn to tell
a moccasin from a water snake,
a coachwhip from a cottonmouth
and to keep your eyes on the ground.

“Watch for snakes, son, ”
his mama said when she heard
the screen door slam.
“Yes, ma’am, .” he called back.

Now that he lives in New York City,
the only reptiles live in Bronx zoo.
Yet other venomous creatures
wait poised to strike,
and he never fails to warn his son:
“Watch out for snakes.
You have to know the difference…”