You’re going to make a father out of me: first snake I’ve held; first baby I’ve cared for. I place my hand into your cage; you sniff and avoid when it’s obvious to me you should glide right on. Only after both of my hands have lain on either side of you and you’ve tucked yourself into a ball, head resting on curls, do I realize I must pick you up directly. You don’t snap when I pinch; then it’s hand over hand over hand: non–stop. On the table, in the sun, you stretch out into a new world. You don’t know and there’s no way for me to tell you: it’s small. Just one big circle as far as the eye can see: only, snakes are blind. You’re so young; you need this experience to learn to move, to understand your body. You head straight for the edge; it’s instinctual or inevitable. And there’s my hand. It’s such a long drop; I don’t want you bruised or dead. So, here’s my hand. And you comprehend. And, though it’s not the best new place to go, perhaps it’s the only place you know. And, back on the table you go and straight to the edge. I blame the small circle you’re in; and, a hand I extend. And you still search for ground. I pull up a chair, in case you want to leave. Do you dare? You sense something underneath; though it be further than you’re long, you hover down till — plump — you fall belly to the sun. You twine between the slats till, like water, you find that sinking leg and dive down — despite its sheer plastic, crimp on it with your pinky–full stomach until — plop — again. Back to the circle and its edge you go. This time, no hands, though. We are both learning about falling here. Now, I see you can smell the ground — or its absence — and I let you dip as far off the edge as you dare; head and belly drip with just your scales left to grip and that fine sense of gravity, refined from your last fall, saves you or perhaps this is normal activity with which I’ve just been meddling? Now, you gracefully circle and dip along the edge without fear to slip; just desperate for some place wherewith to get down. I guess I’ve learned my lesson, now, knowing, as I take you in my hand, we needn’t go hand over hand over hand. And I need not worry about your leaning on me while upon my hand you circle ’round. to curl into a peaceful perch — until you sniff deeper ground.