Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (poem)
by Rudyard Kipling
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (poem) is a vivid dramatic ballad that captures the mortal confrontation between the brave mongoose and the deadly cobra Nag. "Eye to eye and head to head, / (Keep the measure, Nag.)"
At the hole where he went in Red-Eye called to Wrinkle-Skin. Hear what little Red-Eye saith: "Nag, come up and dance with death! " Eye to eye and head to head, (Keep the measure, Nag.) This shall end when one is dead; (At thy pleasure, Nag.) Turn for turn and twist for twist, (Run and hide thee, Nag.) Hah! The hooded Death has missed! (Woe betide thee, Nag!)