Poems About Snakes: Exploring the Serpentine Symbolism in Poetry

Snakes have long been a powerful symbol in mythology, folklore, and literature. Their sinuous form, ability to shed their skin, and sometimes deadly bite have made them both feared and revered creatures. In poetry, snakes often serve as symbols of transformation, temptation, and the primal forces of nature. Below are a few examples of poems that explore the rich symbolism of snakes.

The Snake by Emily Dickinson

The Snake by Emily Dickinson is a short but powerful poem that captures the dual nature of snakes:

A narrow fellow in the grass
Occasionally rides;
You may have met him - did you not
His notice sudden is.

The grass divides as with a comb,
A spotted shaft is seen;
And then it closes at your feet
And opens further on.

He likes a boggy acre,
A floor too cool for corn.
Yet when a child, and barefoot,
I more than once, at morn,

Have passed, I thought, a whip slipt from the lash
That whipped me, stinging me.

Oh tongue of phosphor on the dust,
That equals all my trust!
Oh threatening paradises!
That will not take my peace!

In this poem, Dickinson uses the image of a snake in the grass to convey a sense of unease and danger. The snake is described as a "narrow fellow" that moves sinuously through the grass, almost unnoticed until it is too late. The speaker describes feeling as though they have been "whipped," suggesting that the snake's presence is both physically and emotionally harmful. The final lines of the poem evoke a sense of fear and uncertainty, as the speaker is unable to find peace in the face of the snake's threatening presence.

The Snake by D.H. Lawrence

The Snake by D.H. Lawrence is another well-known poem that explores the symbolism of snakes:

I love to see
the gilded snakes
their bodies thin
When twilight in its deepest dark
creeps up from every secret hole.

It is the hour when beauty lies
asleep in every blooming earth:
then the gilded snakes slip forth—
They come alive
where others die:
and cold-eyed curling down
the unseen form, they pause awile
then suddenly grow into a circling hole.

The rainbow Sun of day is set,
the blood-red Moon world—once more back
to its old sin up in the world.

Lawrence's poem presents a different perspective on snakes, portraying them as beautiful and mystical creatures. The poet uses vivid imagery to evoke a sense of magic and wonder surrounding the snakes, describing them as gilded and slipping forth from their secret holes in the twilight. The poem suggests that snakes are creatures of the night, coming alive when others die and embodying a sense of primal power and energy. The final lines of the poem allude to the cyclical nature of life and the eternal presence of the snake as a symbol of transformation and rebirth.

These two poems offer just a glimpse into the rich tradition of snake symbolism in poetry. From the Christian story of the serpent in the Garden of Eden to the ancient Greek myth of the ouroboros, snakes have captured the imagination of poets for centuries. Whether seen as dangerous predators or mystical symbols of wisdom and renewal, snakes continue to fascinate and inspire poets to explore their serpentine mysteries in verse.