Xu Xian

Xu Xian 

 

One day
your mother pushed
you behind her
and took the brunt
of the snake's attack 

 

She shoved you
away while her own chin
was bitten through by four fangs 

 

With her sharp claws
your mother slashed
that snake's guts
then she fell away in agony
while the snake sped
off shaking its head
fitfully as it went 

 

You hunted in the grove
for the silver seeds
your mother had fed you
after she refused you her milk 

 

Seeds that made you human
would now save her