The snake lives back by the bees’ nest beneath a pile of leaves. They were living together all winter, and when I pulled back the tarp they acted like I’d caught them with their pants down. I like knowing the snake is there, it makes things feel wild. I shriek when I see it coiling away, that red stripe! The bees’ nest looks like a collapsed lung with yellow coming out the sides. They must be the same bees that collect from the bush by our chaise lounge. I lay with my head in that bush close enough they can crawl all over me but I’m not afraid, they have this red-orange coat that makes them seem almost cute, reminds me of a hanging mobile my aunt Sue had in her bedroom growing up with furry, multi-colored bees. It’s in there still, that association from 40 years ago that makes me think these bees are okay.
Dawn talks about the fact that we’re afraid of snakes because they look so different from us anatomically. Same with spiders. Seems like everything we encounter is a representation of something more than itself. We either personify or dehumanize based on what we can relate to. How can it be any different? We are all just trying to relate.
The fact that dogs have the same kind of eyebrow muscles we do and that’s what makes them more relatable to us than cats, cats don’t have that same muscle. Horses, too. We see the humanity in the horse but it’s really ourselves we see reflected back, through their eyes.
The ax leans against the tree safe from rain. I walk barefoot across the grass to the back of the yard hoping to see the snake. Happy it’s there, hidden from view.
We are living this life where everyone we encounter is just a version of ourselves, the same as in dreams. How long have we been imagining shapes in the clouds? Or telling stories? Looking for fortunes, for signs, trying to read the wind. What is it about the self that separates us? And these associations from before we were born that make us who we are, how we relate. That at times can make us feel so in touch, or so alone.
Bill Pearse 
So much here that has my head spinning – dog vs cat eyebrows – what kind of snake? – you letting bees walk on you – mmmmm! Great post. Wish we humans weren’t so prone to each prove superiority over others … as if differences needed some sort of ranking … btw my Labrador smiled when I read this to her …
LikeLiked by 1 person
How sweet Jazz! Garter snake I think. That post was bugging me for three days and I had to let it go. Glad it gave you a spin…did me too! Be well! Giving you an eyebrow look now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I dig the Zen of this one. It oozes ancient wisdom. Snakes are definitely creepy. Most things that are wont to go from zero to sixty quickly are frightening… snakes, certain bugs, even frogs. (It’s the unpredictable leaping.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yeah, that’s the thing with millipedes and me. And why are they always in the bathtub? You’d think with all those anchor points they could get out.
LikeLike
We had a wasp attack and invade our house yesterday. It was a vicious, kamikaze bastard. I slaughtered it like some Tarantino character, blood spraying. No ahimsa whatsoever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m playing Deep Purple “Midnight Star” now and will make that the soundtrack to your scene.
LikeLike
Thanks! That would have played well over the combat footage.
LikeLike
NICE! How you melded the universal with the everyday, the natural with the spiritual.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Inseparable!
LikeLike
It seems like it’s man’s nature to anthropomorphize everything, including (or especially) its Gods. And after that if we still can’t squeeze it into our tribe, it’s an evil scary thing that needs to be dominated or destroyed.
Whereas snakes and bees living in sin – they don’t seem to mind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly. We put ourselves on everything for better or for ill…
LikeLiked by 1 person