Lion, dweller of the desert
with gleaming fur and crushing paws
      wandered, searching, thirsty, wanting
when only yards away was fresh-rain ponds
   just barely out of sight
           and the lion was almost satisfied
For now, it was patient


But then, from its dark, dry hole
a snake, red, long, its body curled in waves
   it came and teased the lion
     selfish, ignorant, it swam through sand
right in front of that thirsty lion
                Not counting its consequences


The lion's fur rose as it watched the snake go
      It's heart, mighty, proud, longed to ****** the serpent
or chase, at least chase
  But its clever mind scorned-
The lion needed water, its thirst growing great
           The fresh-rain ponds were just over the sand hill
The heart fought the mind
      The mind finally gave
         Knowing the worst with great disregard


It leaped through the gold dust and pounced on the snake
         But there-
   its heart was great
       but its mind was resentful with spite
              thirsting to wound that heart's lazy pride
  so it let that scarlet snake slipped
right through, free from the paws
      to retreat in its hole
           until morning

This lion's heart, it beat and swore
This lion's mind, it smirked and snubbed
         And it sat in the sun of the desert, much greater than it
      Just wrinkling to nothing
           Bitter with loss for drink and food
No compromise to be reached,
        The lion withered for nothing
To have its ashes mixed with the sand
and blown
         away