The Snake

On her way to work one morning,

down the path alongside the lake

a tender-hearted woman

saw a poor half-frozen snake.

His pretty colored skin

had been all frosted with the dew.

"Oh well", she cried,

"I'll take you in and

I'll take care of you".

        "Take me in, oh tender woman,

        take me in, for heaven's sake,

        take me in, tender woman",

        sighed the snake.

She wrapped him up all cozy

in a curvature of silk,

and then laid him by the fireside

with some honey and some milk.

Now she hurried home

from work that night.

As soon as she arrived

she found that pretty snake

she'd taken in had been revived.

        "Take me in, oh tender woman,

        take me in, for heaven's sake,

        take me in, tender woman",

        sighed the snake.

Now she clutched him to her bosom,

"You're so beautiful", she cried,

"But if I hadn't brought you in,

by now you might have died".

Now she stroked his pretty skin

and then she kissed and held him tight,

but instead of saying thanks,

that snake gave her a vicious bite.

        "Take me in, oh tender woman,

        take me in, for heaven's sake,

        take me in, tender woman",

        sighed the snake.

"I saved you", cried that woman

"And you've bit me, heaven why?

You know your bite is poisonous

and now I'm going to die".

"Oh shut up, silly woman",

said the reptile with a grin.

"You knew damn well I was a snake

before you took me in."

        "Take me in, oh tender woman,

        take me in, for heaven's sake,

        take me in, tender woman",

        sighed the snake,

        sighed the snake.

• Artist:Al Wilson