A Fool's Marathon

A slithering story about the serpent and a fool

Image by Anderson Martins

he’s naked, aside
an old ragged cloak
a splintered walking stick
and cloth folded over books
and drugs and drink and bread

doesn’t use the stick as a cane
tied the cloth sack to it
frolicks through fennel fields
with it slung over his shoulder

a serpent follows like his pet
he guides it to the acacia tree
unknowingly
eats yoghurt with a spoon
plays a flute and relishes
in the moonlight

the bark is smooth and cool
and he finds a branch
wide enough to bed
for his slumber

the next morning
a woman donned
in fig leaves
and sunrays
wakes him with fruit
to accompany his overnight
oats and yoghurt

they kiss
burn with passion

“You wish,” said the serpent, laughing.

© Jozef Cain, 2025