what have we here

it's a common snake
in the yard.
striped
yellow, with a fringe
of fancy
black down it's leathery
length.
it sticks his tongue out
at me,
as I find him under
a bed of wet
leaves.
he coils together
in fright.
ready to strike.
but with enough noise
and me saying things
like get out
of here snake, he slithers
into the yard
next door, finding a small
hole
in the fence,
that's just right.