Cora the Coral Snake was thinking
Thinking very hard as she was slinking.
She stopped slinking over the woodland floor.
She wondered why people who lived behind a closed door
Came to bother her in her home in the woodlands.
Little people like her for her colorful bands.
She wished she knew people talk.
What she would say, wouldn’t be unimportant small talk.

She would say: “People, you scare me! I’d just like to hide
Whenever you and your children come outside.
Your children shouldn’t grab me for a pet.
I’m not a toy, or some pretty little trinket.
When I’m caught I will bite to be free
My bite is poisonous, so just let me be.
My poison protects me, and helps me catch food.
I’m not really nasty, or even in a bad mood.
If you teach your children just not to touch,
I’d be so grateful – thank you so very much!
You see, I’m small and very afraid and shy.
Can’t you just tell your children to let me slip by?
Surely you understand why you should just let me go.
Every wild thing wants to be free. This you must know.
And any creature, including you, that is caught
Will fight, fight with whatever power they’ve got.
The only power I’ve got is my bite.
Leave me alone and we’ll all be all right.

My bands of black, yellow, red, yellow, black.
Should tell you, get away! Stop! Step back!
And, children, you must STOP! Put on the brake!
Don’t pick me up. I don’t want to be your pet snake.
When you come into the woods, don’t be quiet and still.
This is my home. Please make plenty of noise if you will.
If I hear you entering my woodland home
I’ll leave. Like fast, I’m gone, on the roam!
Please people, make noise like lots of talking.
Then I’ll know you are coming. Yes, coming, coming, coming.
I’m not really rude. But I’d slither away over the dirt.
So neither of us will be frightened or get hurt.”

Note : Statistically children are the most common victims of the coral snake’s bite because they are attracted to the bright rings of the snake’s body. Teaching children not to pick up snakes is wise. The coral snake lives in Florida, the Carolinas, Texas and Northern Mexico.