家蛇

Snake in the House

In Waipo's village of the camphor hills

there was a snake in every house.

The snake protected the household

against bad luck and ills.

It could be the spirit

of a great-grand-parent

who found life in the house

more livable than in the graveyard.

Children were taught

not to throw stones

at snakes found in a tomb.

Yet the bricks were excavated

cold from another world

to build more houses.

Therefore more snakes slid out

to share a civilized life.