I love to frequent old antique book stores for the dustiest, oldest reptile books I can find. I always love to see how much the field has changed, and there are always anecdotes, and other gems scattered in these old out of date literary works. Recently I purchased a book simply titled "Rattlesnakes" by famed western novelist J. Frank Dobie. Now Dobie's work is far from scientific, rather is a collection of lore, myths and cowboys tall tales from the earlier days in Texas. It was publish... Read More
Ode to a spider living in the eye socket of a long-dead sheep
Fiendish mygalomorph,
Does the world look very big
When viewed through eight eyes
From your snug, cartilaginous socket?
Do you care
That it extends far beyond the nose of your skull
Further than the hawthorn tree
And even past the wall and down the valley
Where the descendants of your bony house
Chomp vacantly on rough heather?
You may remem... Read More
The Voice of A Viper
By Jenn Bellew
For many moons before you came, I roamed this land, untouched and free.
The ones who knew me revered me.
I was like a god in this land, limbless and unblinking I traversed the plains, mountains, streams, forests and trees.
All was my domain, save for the air. I renewed myself seasonally, keeping an appearance of eternal youth.
My scales were called beautiful, my colors too.
And... Read More