And looked around like a god, unseeing, into the air.

1. Why did the poet look upon the snake as a god.

The poet looks upon the snake as a god because the latter is very unmindful and carefree about the lesser mortals like humans. The snake seems to be least bothered about the fact that the poet is waiting for is turn at the trough. He seems to rule like a god, his movement as graceful as Him.