Sammy gives an admiring stare
At his old grandpa resting there.
For he is proud, for goodness sake,
To have him as his Grandpa Snake.
It seems that age demands it's toll.
Now he is helped out of his hole.
No longer any good at sneaking
With a body that is always creaking
Each night his fangs are in a cup.
He has to have his mice chopped up.
His vision is a little blurred
His hisses are a little slurred.
At dusk, as the fire is burning low,
They crowd around him in its glow.
And Grandpa Snake is in his glory,
As they listen to his snake life story.
He tells them of his fine degree
From Wiggle University.
And laughs at silly Uncle Rube
Who fell in love with a plastic tube.
Reminds them how late cousin Victor,
Made a mistake—hugged a constrictor.
His brother Stubby, still is alive,
But part of his tail is on I 95.
He remembers how the gals would gasp
At his old buddy, Al the Asp.
Al grabbed his tail to make a hoop
And round a branch he'd loop the loop.
His stories make the young snakes smile.
And he keeps it up for quite a while.
Then they say, "It would be real nice
If you could give us some advice."
Then Grandpa takes his glasses off,
Hums a hiss, gives a soft snake cough,
Then says, " Young snakes, I'll tell to you
Some simple things I've found are true.
"The secret of life is very clear.
Just care for others while you're here.
I know that I would crawl a mile
Just to make a sad snake smile.
"Yes, the happiest moments I recall
Did not involve my wants at all.
There is a joy that's like no other
That you receive when you help another
"Don't envy those with skins of gold.
For every skin sometimes gets cold.
Remember this, because it's true
Your happiness is up to you.
"So try, as you crawl down the pike,
To be a snake that you can like.
Or you'll be sad as the night turns cool
That you're alone there with a fool.
"But if you do, when you awake,
Resolve to be a caring snake
And live a life that's good and true.
Make other snakes believe in you.
"For when you face the setting sun,
You will recall the things you've done.
The stuff you have won't mean a thing.
Not what you take but what you bring."
As Grandpa talks there are snake sighs,
Nodding heads and bright snake eyes.
For young snakes know that he is real
And seek the knowledge he'll reveal.
Each night as grandpa crawls in bed
Our little Sammy bows his head.
"Please give this gift, when I awake:
Another day with Grandpa Snake."
—Grandpa Tucker
Copyright ©1998 by Bob Tucker