Sitting pancaked against the ground waits

like a mine teeth bared gurgling

An eye darts from side to side nervously

Munch!

By Michael Taylor aged 13, who receives Poems on the Underground (Cassell). Submitted by Cliff Yates, Maharishi School, Cobbs Brow Lane, Lathom, Ormskirk, Lancs L40 6JJ, who receives the Poetry Society’s teachers’ newsletter. For Poetry Society events ring 0171-240 4810.

What especially grabs me in this poem is the image in the first stanza “pancaked against the ground”. It helps to evoke a vivid picture of a dog waiting to go for an ankle. At least, I think it’s a dog. A friend of mine took this to be a poem about a snake. He may have been misled by “lesser spotted” in the title.