Encounter

Well, well. The dog ran off back to the lake when a marmot chirped at him. The dog has no courage. So I ambled back towards the lake on the upper road, minding my own business. As I rounded the corner I saw a brown stick, too brown and too perfect.

I believe this three foot long brown snake is a Western Racer / Brown Racer— it has big eyes, but I did not take any time to see if its underbelly was light in color. I snapped a picture, then stepped behind and away, leaving it to its business and me to mine — as quickly as I could!

I’ll join Guthrie with this one. I am not fearless either, especially with snakes. This poem is exactly how I felt. Each of us on our own business — he goes his way and I go mine, quickly.

Encounter

Walking the dog by the lake
Minding my own business;
Across my path: a snake!
Minding its own business
I step behind; it heads straight—
Each to one’s own business.

SHERI EDWARDS
NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
4/23/26

---

Reflect curiosity and wonder --Go boldly and scatter seeds of kindness...