Long ago in Persia, close to Ecbatana.

Among the little towns; whose nobles wore golden gowns.

There was a man walking in the wilderness;

with a sad look on his face.

One farsang away which is the furthest the eye could see;

The man stopped at a boulder next to a tree.

*Tap, Tap, Tap*

The man knocked on a rock;

As he sat to try his luck.

*Rattle*

A snake came out from an opening;

rattling as he saw the man dousing.

Do not be mistaken; for the snake knew the man at his tails span.

"Ah Darius! you finally came to visit me"

*Rattle*

"Oh snake, it has just been a week"

"That may be; so tell me, why do you look so out of glee?"

"What glee is there in poverty? To what end do we work all our lives for a few coppers fee?"

"I never did understand humans, you have my pity, but say

what value are coloured rocks to thee?"

"It is our currency. For us to barter and trade as we please."

The snake pondered, looking at yonder.

"Ah I now see."

*Rattle*

The snake rattled and slipped under the tree, and soon Darius fell on his knee.

Emerging again, with a keen look as you will see.

A golden coin was in the snake's maw, as Darius was holding to life's flaw.

"Is this of use to thee?"

The man, who was still with sorrow, with his eyes dejected and hollow.

He heed his friend's call, he rose, and then he froze.

"Oh snake! where doth thee obtain this treasure?"

*Rattle*

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Rattled the snake with pride, as he explained with delight.

"Long ago, before the lands were split by man's ego.

There was a king who came to his dream:

His wealth would be lost in a traitorous scheme.

So he hid his wealth and did so in stealth.

but as fate would hold, my ancestor saw it and took a liking on it."

"Oh snake! can you give it to me?"

"Yes, my friend. here that's for thee."

The man jumped in the air, looking at it with a golden stare.

"It seems my friend, you have gained vigor and an upgrade to your demeanor."

"Indeed my friend, tonight I will spend."

"I'll tell you my friend of what you will receive; each time you visit this old snake, one gold coin to home you will take."

The snake and Darius celebrated with savories,

Until the trees drew back their cherries.

A few months went by;

Darius was the riches man under the sky

Unbeknownst to Darius, he had a son quite nefarious.

The gold came by and the gold went by;

Yet the son never figured out where the source lie.

Another day went by, so Darius went for another try;

His son however would not be taken for another lie.

So he followed him on the same day, mind focused for wealth on a try.

"Oh great snake! oh king of snakes, come out my friend."

*Rattle*

The snake came out of his barrow;

spitting out 3 coins as he looked at this human fellow.

"Darius my friend, your visits have become more frequent.

I dare say an odd recurrent.

You used to take 1 gold, but now 3 is your base as you told."

Darius now gleamed like a prince, that too with splendor and grace.

"Yes my friend, it's true; I need not lie;

That much I owe you."

Hours went by, and Darius made a sigh.

long were the hours for tomorrow,

He could not wait for the snake's gold; oh gods what's with this fellow?

The two friends departed. One glamorous with light and the other, well.....

"Something is not right. It feels as though he visits the gold I hoard,

perhaps next time I will scold."

The father departed from the play and the son entered the fray;

for he saw the gold handed to his father, that much is clear as day.

"Oh serpent! give me the gold or your body I will mold."

Darius heard a zealous voice from far away. He saw his son next to the snakes' lair.

"Oh god, the snake will be in dismay!"

*Rattle*

The confused snake sliddered out of his lair,

Who is this human causing dread at this time of day?

The son lifted his melee to make the snake obey.

*RATTLE*

*HISS*

And so the snake attacked, the boy now lie dead;

His eyes were still filled with dread.

The snake was holding tight his sons' neck.

rendering his heart and lungs useless for pity's sake.

Darius arrived on the scene, eyes wide,

He was beguiled with fright.

'Oh great creator, why did he slay?'

He picked up his sons' stick and hit the snake.

"Let him go you feindish ache."

The snake thought his friend came to him to aid.

Never did he think the target of his rage he would be at this stage.

The stick hit the snake, who no longer rattled with pride;

As his tail fell off from his behind.

The snake barrowed back into his lair,

Saying not a word to his want to be slayer.

Darius picked up his sons corpse,

Holding him tight with remorse.

"Oh demon snake! what have you done?

Come out so I can kill you, you can never run."

The snake kept his silence,

Weeping in grimace and reluctant defiance.

Darius took his sons' corpse,

No use was there to stay and remorse.

Months passed by and Darius was broke; why to lie.

So to the wilderness he dejectantly went;

hoping to meet his once good friend.

To the rock and tree Darius drew ever closer,

'oh I'm such a loser.'

*Tap, Tap, Tap*

"My friend, it is I Darius, let us make amends; we must be pious."

* *

Silence filled the surrounding space,

Air still filled with blood and his face twitching with a clear trace.

"My friend, as I took your tail , so did you take my son away.

lets make amends and call it a day."

listen here oh reader. Soon you will realize why the snake shed his tear.

"Oh Darius. Just as you have lost your son and not have him back;

I too have lost my rattle still missing at my back."

Darius realized the wisdom of the snake.

He was a fool to make his friend a tool.

And so a price was paid in anger and hate;

A boy and a tail; so tell me, what is your take?