In Mary Oliver's poem “The Black Serpent,” the narrator contemplates the cycle of life with the unpredictability of death. Mary Oliver's work is "known for its natural themes and a continuing affirmation of nature as a place of mystery and spirituality that holds the power to teach humans how to value its life and place" (Riley). In the poem The Black Snake, the narrator witnesses a black snake being hit by a truck and killed on a road one morning. Feeling sympathy for the snake, the narrator stops and removes the dead snake from the road. Noticing the beauty of the snake, the narrator carries it from the road to some nearby bushes. As he continues driving, the narrator reflects on how the brutality of death ultimately revealed the way the snake lived its life. This poem is divided into six stanzas of four lines each. The poem opens with “When the black serpent shone on the morning road” (1-2). The narrator uses “when” to signify the beginning of the story and introduces the snake as the main character. Referring to the snake as "black" gives it a dark and sinister appeal. The word "flashed" is used to demonstrate how quickly the snake moved and how quickly this event occurred. “Morning” applies to the time of day this event occurred. The narrator sees the snake quickly crossing the road. This sets the scene in our minds. The “truck couldn’t swerve” (3) suggests that it was an accidental death. The poet uses the term “truck” to suggest a large vehicle incapable of making rapid movements or sudden stops. The narrator sees the snake crossing the road, heading towards a large truck unable to stop or swerve. “Death, that’s how it happens” (4). The word “death” is italicized, emphasizing its importance. The p...... middle of paper...... the snake lived, without stopping to think about death or the meaning of its life. The poet refers to living life to the fullest “before hitting the road” (24). Life is fragile and even though death is certain, we must not let our fear of death rule the way we live. Oliver uses the death of the snake as a metaphor for the delicacy of life. We can live for a minute, but disappear in an instant. We should all be propelling full throttle through life, never slowing down to contemplate death. We hope that we will be remembered for how we lived, what we did to celebrate that life, and not just how we died. Works Cited Riley, Jeannette E. "Mary Oliver". American Nature Poets of the Twentieth Century. Ed. J. Scott Bryson and Roger Thompson. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 342. Literary Resource Center. Internet. November 1. 2011.