Mom found a tiny baby snake today and brought him in for me to see. I must admit turning to see a live snake dangling in front of my face was, at the very least, jarring. Yet there was something about those big round eyes that charmed me to the depths of my soul, and I reached out for him. My heart cried out "hello!" and I'm sure if the little guy hadn't been so interested in strangling my fingers his heart would have cried out, too. We became fast friends, Fernando and I, for yes that was his name. I knew deep down our time together must come to a bitter end, for I could see the wilderness in those oil drop eyes! He would have never been content here. So I bid him a tearful farewell, waving my handerkerchief as he boarded the last train to Snakeville, never looking back. Never to return.




There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There's no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando