Lizard Tales

"I am the Lizard King. I can do anything!” - Jim Morrison

I never thought it would be so easy to catch a lizard - with bare hands. They are quick to dart away and disappear, making it quite clear they don’t want to hang around us. And yet despite the obvious reluctance, the two of us have lived together in peaceful co-existence for many years, across different cities and different homes. As placid roommates. He usually sticks to the ceiling and I’m always on the floor, curiously eyeing each other from a distance. Never close, never ever...until recently.

Alchemical Manuscript, Clavis Artis - 17th Century

It happened last week on one of those beautiful end of summer nights, when I was walking with a friend in an overgrown park talking about serious inconsequential things. Mr. L was chilling on the bars of a wrought iron railing, softly framed by hibiscus leaves, bathing in the golden light of a streetlamp. It was the perfect setting. We were destined to meet. And it happened just like that, in the middle of a sentence - in a flash - my friend’s hand darted between the railings, caught that beautiful creature and brought his face close to mine. It was the first time I looked into his beady eyes.

The Repast of the Lion - Henri Rousseau, 1907

There is something mysterious and oddly appealing about these pre historic animals. They are stone silent, notoriously elusive and are rumoured to have magical powers. I was entranced. Even though he glared at me, as my friend held him tenderly between his fingers, without a flicker of emotion on his scaly face. I wondered if he knew what I was thinking.

Thinking happens in the head. But deep inside our skull also lies a raw ancient core that has often been called the lizard brain. It is the more primal, less thinking part of us. The part that hums with our deepest emotions and drives our most basic instincts. The lizard brain is how we sense the world, feel the edge of danger, the ache of longing and learn to survive. It is here that reason, logic and arguments are cast aside, and we learn to listen to our heart. It is the oldest part of our brain, and as we stared at one another, I thought to myself that he and I are similar, for we share the same savage pulse that makes us do what we do.

Coat of Arms (Plague Doctor Duality) - Theodore Zwinger, 17th century

As my finger traced his soft underbelly, he held my gaze and flicked his tail. I'd like to believe that there was a moment of quiet recognition between us. But the very next instant his lizard brain took over, just like mine, and before I could say a word, he was gone. Vanished into the leaves, forever.

The stars stretched endlessly over our heads. It was close to midnight. A sleepy watchman shooed us away, crickets continued to holler their song, and we walked back home talking about silly inconsequential things.

Days passed, but I haven't forgotten Mr. L. There is something very elemental about touch. I remember how he felt under my fingers and his glassy eyes looking into mine. That quiet moment is going to be a reminder for me to follow my heart. There isn't much chance of us meeting again as I’m no good at catching lizards. But I'm hoping my friend with his exceptional predatory skills can do it once more. And if he does, this time I will tell L my name and try to get him to talk.

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