In "A Morning for Flamingos" by James Lee Burke, the protagonist expresses a profound struggle with inner turmoil, represented metaphorically through snakes and bats residing within. The desire to purge these unsettling feelings is depicted as a desperate yet futile act. The imagery of kicking open a furnace door to incinerate these creatures illustrates a longing for relief from emotional pain.

However, the protagonist realizes that despite this temporary release, the remnants will inevitably return, resurrected and unrelenting. This cycle of trying to rid oneself of inner demons only to have them reemerge emphasizes the complexity of human emotions and the challenges of self-acceptance and healing.