Question

why does poet compare the snake to a king?

Answer 1

Clearly, the speaker of the poem regrets his act of "pettiness" and in comparing himself to the mariner in the other poem, feels that he too has acted against the natural world.  Lawrence's poem glorifies the snake, praising it for its beauty and grace, comparing it to a king; after the speaker's half-hearted attempt to kill the snake, he feels guilty and wishes that the snake would return from its hole so that he might make amends for his action.