April Anomalies A-Z: Cockatrice

…a cockatrice shall go out of the root of an adder, and his seed shall swallow up a bird and its children shall be flying serpents. Isaiah 14:29

Cockatrice cannot change,

and cockatrice doesn't care,
doesn't care who lives and who dies.
Cockatrice once or cockatrice twice,
before the night is out you will deny him thrice,
before the caterwauling terrorist of dawn
screams off his bloody head.

Cockatrice will drink that poisonous cup of wrath
and will spit in your eye just to spite you.
From toad-nursed egg and from spider’s web
Cockatrice will rise
and he will not be charmed.

He is the winged serpent in the garden,
striking your heel, blinding your eyes,
and turning you and your heart into stone.
Cockatrice cannot change,
has no sympathy and doesn't care.

This is part of April Anomalies A-Z, a creative writing exercise and not intended to be an altogether accurate picture of the creature described above.  But for a really great story involving the Cockatrice you should read The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin, Jr.