The Colony

All of our lives we have been asked “Why do you like snakes?” Over a period of many years, we have answered that question in many ways, largely because at first we really didn't know the answer... A few years ago, we realized the true answer to that question: we like snakes because we think they are beautiful. We perceive snakes as extraordinarily beautiful creatures. Although our primary attraction to snakes is visual, it has bred familiarity, and we have grown fascinated by snakes for many other reasons. We like how snakes feel; we like how snakes move; we like the symmetry of snakes: the overlap of the scales, the line of the neck. We like the expression of snakes. A snake may not have facial expressions, per se, but the shape of the head, the scales around the eye, and the pose of the head are elegantly expressive. We are attracted to the mystery of snakes. Even after such a long and conflicted association as snakes have had with humanity, there is much to learn about them and we have tried to learn everything possible...Still, it is their beauty that continues to captivate us.

— The Invisible Ark, by Tracy M. Barker and David G. Barker