Paikin's Song

But Cold Alone

But cold alone
Was not his only woe
As the dark dark place
Knew of lesser life
That first had called it home
Before they came
The poor prisoners

And hissed a one of them
A snakelike thing
At poor Sahla down
As it slowly slithered near
From out the darkness cold

Away away with you
You damn like snake
I'm no threat to you
And this you know
So find to you
Your normal prey
I am certain sure
They are about

The snake it thought
Like otherwise
And slithered closer so
With a flickering tongue
Both long and forked sharp
As if to cut it could
The flesh of a larger
Like Sahla himself

Thus spooked he was
And rose him quick
Which set off the snake
Who likewise struck him fast

Charles Petrie