The Serpent and the Naif

She spun so free from worry and the harm of knavery
Her free spirit is the only thing overshadowing her bravery
She didn’t know much of the world around her and in her dreams
But her life was molded from experiencing simplicities

She danced daily and all through the night with ease
Her hair flew about in smooth serenity like the most golden breeze
She danced far from her home although it was never planned
And into a depressed, dark village all but forgotten by man

She danced upon a hill top overlooking the town
Her dancing stopped as her face prepared for it’s first frown
She soon realized this was no average gloomy borough
She heard cries and tears that hit the cold ground with sorrow

She skipped down the hill into the village and met a man
An older gent with a long white beard, barely able to stand
She helped him to a seat and very gently she asked,
“Why is this town so full of woe, and it’s folk so aghast?”

“You see, my young dear,” the man began to quietly speak
“It’s not a hamlet that many wisened travelers set to seek,
We’ve been harassed by a snake whom we’ve learned to resent.
The black scaled, ivory toothed, most malicious of serpents.”

She stepped back, ’tis just a snake’ she thought to herself
She pondered why this village isn’t thriving and booming with wealth
It was just a small reptile, but it has long kept this quiet place in fear
How could it keep such a place in grief and misfortune for so many years

She walked through the town, not ever once opting to leave
She knew she could try to help, even though she was naive
She never frightened a thing, nor staved off a raging beast
But she thought to herself “I must try to help at least.”

She walked through an alley as cold and dark as night
Watching mothers with their children barely clinging to life
They all had two small discolored wounds just above their feet
About an inch or so apart all made from the same pair of teeth

She found herself in a quaint little park in the center of town
Lit by street lamps shining a brilliant orange all around
She saw the demon serpent that has been haunting this place
She stared at its neon eyes without an ounce of fear on her face

The snake came closer, hissed, and coiled in a tight ball
Then it’s head rose from its body, raising menacing and tall
It was eye level to the innocent girl that happened upon this land
The same girl that has now inadvertently made a stand

In the serpent’s mouth, it’s fangs were stained with blood
The girl looked them over, but still there she stood
She was not trembling with fear, nor running in fright
She wouldn’t leave until this serpent slithered out into the night

The serpent reared its head back getting ready to strike
But before it lunged it saw something that halted its deadly bite
The young girl was dancing, twirling with the grace of a goddess
Such a beautiful display all wrapped in a pauper’s dress

Soon, though, the snake snapped out of its trance
Getting ready to strike the strange girl who broke into dance
It reared back again waiting until the girl’s spinning slowed
Then it saw her hair flowing like a river of gold

“I cannot take your life,” the snake amazingly sighed
It looked at the ground as a tear came to it’s soulless eye
Along with a rare tear, it’s teeth fell down into the grass
It slithered away as it’s fangs slowly turned to ash

“The serpent is gone,” all the townsfolk shouted
And unlike before not a single soul pouted
The girl was made a heroine and was highly praised
She left without a word, dancing along the way

Years later the village still remembered the brave young girl
Who saved all their lives with her spinning and twirls
An infinite number of odes to her name the townsfolk sang
About a beauty that could charm a snake into giving up its fangs