The Rattlesnake

The coiled, lethally potent rattlesnake,
Its deadly warning,
The pulse-pounding sound of its reverberating rattler,
The ominous feature at the end of its slithery tail.
Those wishing to stay alive
Should not provoke these venomous pit vipers.
These lurking predators
Lunge without any backward movement,
The only species known to possess this reflex,
And will maul their prey quicker than anticipated,
Attacking as far away as two-thirds of their body length.
Once startled or provoked,
The vicious rattlesnake may unleash
Its precarious and deadly bite,
Which will likely feature a dose of its fatal venom.
The poor, misguided hiker
Who falls prey to its lightning-fierce attack
Will hope to receive prompt treatment
Or risk losing life or limb
To the fearsome, unpredictable rattler…