26 April 07
Dappled Things
There was a snake under the peach tree yesterday — a gopher snake. It was trying to get a little sun. It had a fat bulge in its belly, undoubtedly the gopher that had been shaking through the Mexican primroses earlier this week.
I went out this evening to try and find it again; it was in the same spot, lazily flicking its tongue, checking us out.
Snakes have a hard time in ag lands. I wanted to tell it to invite its friends, to have lots of babies. I have no shortage of work for snakes… including the inflatable rattler at work that needs to be brought home so it can guard my lettuces.
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I love gopher snakes. My dad used to catch them for us to hold when we were kids; such mellow, relaxed animals they are. (Unlike, say, wriggly garters and testy kingsnakes.)