A Tale of Two Tails

Cave painting depicting camels and other animals (Wadi Darbat)

Off to the caves we go, we go
Not a care in the world do we have, we have
Following a map to the caves, oh
Oh, following a map to the caves!

These are the caves with camels, with camels
Drawn all over their walls, their walls
Figures on camels and camels and figures
Drawn all over the walls.

Walking thru the grass, the grass
Occasionally swishing it with m’ cane, m’ cane
Deep in talk talk talk
With Ibrahim following behind.

Wadi Darbat during khareef (monsoon)

Looking straight ahead
Not focussing on anything in particular
Suddenly see the end of a long black thing
Crossing my path just in front of my foot.

Look to what is in front of it -
See an equally black much longer
Connected bit
With a black head attached!

I stop and back up in alarm.
It stops and rears up in alarm,
Then proceeds on its way
Heading for the nearest bushes.

A little later, walking back
From the caves to the car
Again thru longish grass
Again thru longish grass.

Think we should head
For the well-worn cow-track
- safer than walking thru the grass
Start to think of snakes again!

Then… “AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH”,
Scream I to Ibrahim.
He thinks I am teasing about snakes
But NO WAY! NOT! IT’S FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!

There in front is a bronzy-black, threatening head
Hood spread wide,
Head swaying from side to side
Ready to strike something, someone, ME — dead!!!!!!!

My scream wakes me up.
I hover in indecision for a moment.
Will my movement cause it to strike?
We have to get out of here ASAP or else!!!

It’s much more heavily armed than me
I only have a light walking cane
Speed and experience are on its side
In-built speakers blare, “GET OUT OF HERE!!!”

Extremely hastily I run backwards
My eyes still staring
Straight in front of me
At the waving snake.

I know it’s time
For me to leave the scene
- voluntarily
Not taken from it in a body-bag!

Wadi Darbat through vine-wrapped forest

At a safe distance I stop
I must get a photo this time
Whipping out my camera
Gingerly I race after the retreating cobra.

But all too quickly it vanishes
Into the thicker grass
I’m too scared (wise?)
To follow any further.

So, exhilarated and cautioned
By our exciting experiences
We very quickly find
The well-beaten cow-track, cow-track.

Then slowly we wander
Our way back to the car
Every few minutes telling each other
Some new facet of feelings and fears

On the snaky experiences
Punctuated by bismillahs,
Salamaats and other protective
Or thankful utterances!

Talk too of throwing a party
Killing a cow or two
To show our thankfulness
For being spared to live another day or two? or three?

Pass a few men drinking tea
Alongside their pickup
Under the shade of a tree
And recount our story to them, to them

“Why didn’t you kill it?”,
One big brave-looking fellow asks.
“It’s head was as big as yours!”,
Ibrahim replies.

His brave heart falters
His big mouth wavers
With an at-the-ready reply
Then snaps shut! Khlas!

Heading for home by car
Others also have the chance
To hear of our little adventure:
Again, more salamaats are freely dispensed.

Finally I drop off Ibrahim
Safely at his home
Then safely deliver myself home
Al-hamdulilah salamaat! Salamaat!

P. R. Hayden, Salalah © 1998