What is it that compels the best of us to become so enamored and enraptured by such random items? I go walking every evening, preferably after 10, so that I may enjoy the quiet pleasures the night brings me. The sweetness lingering in the air of honeysuckle, jasmine and various other flowers blooming in the wild fields and gardens of my neighbors. The silky blue-silver look the clouds have, their underbellies lit by the moon. the acidic orange white of the clouds draping her ivory crest, a rabbit. The soft glimmer of the fireflies calling to their lovers. the sweet screeches of the cicadas doing the same. The chortling hoots of the family of owls. The scamper of the rabbits as they gleefully consume the strawberries which are their favoritest of foods in the gardens.
Last night I failed to notice something though, and made a horrible error. I stepped on a snake. and this might have been bad on it's own, however I did not notice until he had bit me several times. Worry not about me, the bites did not break skin even. I am more than fine.
And I did not worry about myself either. Fearing only for the snake. Which most species are nocturnal. It's essentially prime pickings for them. And I feel awful. Normally I watch where I step every few yards, but I was enamored of the moon and intoxicated on wonderfully great conversation.
I do not feel excused, however. I am truly mortified. But then a rather lot I do is concerned more for animal welfare than my own. It has always been so. And will always continue to be. I find that the people who share my view of animals as childlike are most like myself.
We who become so enraged and angered at the abuse of such defenseless creatures. For what dog ever attacked the owner after eons of abuse? Wives kill their abusive husbands FAR FAR more often than dogs kill or even bite their masters.
And so, here I sit. Fully repentant and abhorred by my actions and yet unable to make amends, as I feel I should somehow. I can only hope that the snake is fine as he did escape into the wilderness. But somehow that does not seem enough...
I’ve heard of a Buddhist temple in the local area. Perhaps I shall try to find how local and go to visit and pray for the snake. Or maybe I’ll find some way to appease some snake god in some pantheon.
What is it that drives us to push some away, and pull some so close you drown them in yourself?
