Each native youth on reaching age,
Before declaring himself a man,
Goes in soltiude like Christ himself,
To prepare for life as best he can.
One native youth a mountain he saw,
Decided to climb it as a test,
And upon reaching its summit cold,
Congratulated himself fro his conquest.

And then... a rattlesnake he saw,
Backed away he did with a start,
Though aged it was... and stiff with cold,
And looked to have faint heart.
It looked as it was nearing its dying days,
No, rather was in its dying throes,
And to the boy, the snake it spoke...
Or so the story goes.

Aye, the same as to Eve in Eden,
Who was to by a serpent spoken
The apple to eat was tempted,
And so the promise to God was broken.
This rattlesnake spoke to the boy,
And with its rougish charm,
Pleaded to be brought down the mountain,
And it would do him no harm.

After stalling for a while,
So the storys told,
The boy, or good heart or bad sense,
Lifted the snake from the ground cold.
And so safe the rattlesnakes life,
Or try to at least he might,
And in return he'd save his own
As the rattler promised not to bite.

And descending down the mountain,
Snake wrapped in warm buffaloe hide,
Of the shirt that up the mountain he had worn
The snake slept soundly inside,

And at the foor of the mountain tall,
The boy set the rattle snake free,
Upon touching the ground it rattled and hissed,
Rose... sto strike the boy on the knee.

But you promised you wouldnt pleaded the boy,
As to the ground in pain he fell,
"You knew what I was when you picked me up"
The snake to him did tell.
So should you meet a snake in the snow,
Or in the lushest of grass,
Belive not the promises they speak,
Back off! And by them pass...

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Readers of these pages from Ireland will be familiar with Fr Brian Darcys "A Little Bit of Religion" column in the Sunday Word, and Irish sunday newspaper. In the October 1 2006 edition, Fr Brian quotes a tale told by Native American actor Iron Eyes Cody. While he tells it to warn of the dangers of drink and drugs, I feel it can equally apply for those who go into personal or business relationships that are dodgy from the start with their eyes open. In summary, be wary of all who offer false promises be aware of the reality behind them.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = She Who I Loved and Never Did = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = -

Ive not cast my eyes upon her, For many months and years And of joy and of pain, She has caused me no tears, She who I loved and yet never did, As I thought it could never be, She who I may never see again... I wonder how is she? Another in time will hold my heart For such is lifes way and rule, A heart is b9igger for more than one, Unless a mans a fool. And looking back I may think, It foolish how I did dream, Of kisses and caresses from she, How strange it all may seem... And on that day when so am I, Content in love with another, And she is antoher mans wife, To another manschildren a mother... I will look back fondly, Glad that I for a while Though never loved I got to share The beauty of her company and smile!