Question

The snake trying to escape the pursuing stick,
with sudden curvings of thin
long body. How beautiful
and graceful are his shapes
He glides through the water away
from the stroke. O let him go over the water into the reeds to hide without hurt.

Questions:

(1) What is the snake trying to escape from?
(2) What do the words ‘with sudden curvings of thin long body’ suggest?
(3) Where, as the poet suggests, should the snake be allowed to go?

Answer 1

(1) The snake is trying to escape from somebody who is pursuing to strike him with a stick.

(2) The words ‘with sudden curvings of thin long body’ suggest that when the snake moves forward in his serpentile way, his body makes? twisting movements. That image is created through these words.

(3) As the poet suggests, the snake should be allowed to go over the water into the reeds to hide himself.