in apprehension how like a god

a snake slid along the hall floor
on its way towards the front door
behind it a child
neither sullen nor wild
was choking the life from two more

this tale comes of course from greek myth
of herakles it tells and herewith
gives us a firm sense
without any pretense
that mythology goes straight to the pith

of course when your daddy's a god
not some typical hardworking sod
you've got mighty strength
and considerable length
to your semidivine yet quite potent rod

the fleeing snake made its beeline
for freedom before risking a whine
about how unfair
it was to be there
as a horribly freudian sign

the moral i say of this tale
reminds us that they do not fail
who avoiding all risk
choose not to frisk
around any demidivine male