will I ill-fit as fate
to the various bugs so very engaged
in vertical creeps, horizontal crawls
and diagonal scurries
from baseboard to ceiling to jamb.
It's not that I'm a coward, cringing
at the prospect of spilled goop
(it does curdle my stomach)
or an insect mahatma
committed to non-violent displacements
(they always find their way back).
This keeping of six-legged fascination
has an even odder bent:
I tolerate roommates of small
and exo-skeletal sort (rent free, of course)
because their nightly prances
enhance my fancy with tallish tales.
On dozing lobe, barbed forelegs unfurl
notes scanned by faceted eyes,
their jagged beaks propping then dropping
sibilant syllables to be carried
on stereo cilia strumming
the tympani of my inner ear.
Their droned odes sing of minute kingdoms,
each clique in turn surveying:
spiral stairways sculpted from red clay;
ornate thrones wood-worked in stump and root;
dangling silk hammocks spun on airy heights,
a reward for stealing flowered kisses.
This entrancing Royal's ransom promised
to me in simple exchange:
I let them traffic through cabinets, walls
and drawers, all the time plotting
how to populate and expand a bit
further their swarming, nether realms.
— Francis Scudellari
This poem is written in response to Read Write Prompt #93: Make it a Whopper at Read Write Poem. The challenge was basically to build a tall tale out of a lie or lies.
23 comments:
love this poem. i've not read such an elegant description of bugs before. I do, too, in wonder and fascination observe them.
I tolerate roommates of small
and exo-skeletal sort (rent free, of course)
Delicious lines! I am not fond of insects except on the other side of a fine mesh screen, but you have presented them and your tall-tale reaction to them in delightful language.
_____
Paul Oakley
Blogging his ReadWritePoem poems at Inner Light, Radiant Life
Great beauty and style for such a tall tale. Made me stop and think before I squished the bug on my desk. Very nice my friend.
I love creepy crawly poems. You did an excellent job here.
I call it beauty of bugs. I will look at those the same way again.
tale of two toes
Hi Francis,
I love the imagery of the fifth stanza but I'm happier with the idea that they aren't there!
Very good and interesting descriptions here> LOVED "the insect mahatma".. made me chuckle. The poem DID make me itch all over, though!
The Mahatma, non-violent bug.... how I love that imagery!!
Thank you!
I really like the reasoning here and your descriptive language is great.
I love this not only for the subject (I'm a bug fan, not of all, but most, or at least many) but for the music and high tone.
That bugs would bring the narrator such whimsical poesy is an absolute delight!
"their jagged beaks propping then dropping/ sibilant syllables to be carried/ on stereo cilia strumming/ the tympani of my inner ear."
You must have had to much fun doing this one. The sounds are incredible, clicks and silly sibilants.
Terrific use of sound and detail, the tongue really crawls over the words. Lots of great phrases. I particularly like "insect mahatma"
with its implications about violent humans.
I am not living happily with the bugs in my life, I tolerate them and let my dog look after their visits. Your poem has wonderful descriptions for beautifully
bargained shared living spaces. I liked the way your consonants chattered like six-legged, exo-skeletal and barbed forelegs. Lovely work, Francis.
This definitely needs to be read out loud. The sounds are amazing.
Clever piece of poetry! Shivering and smiling!
Francis, I love this! What a twist on the usual way we think about bugs in our homes. You said it with such musicality, too.
You've given the bugs more elegance and romance that I ever would. An enjoyable read.
-Nicole
From Therese Broderick at RWP -- It's a tall tale within a tall tale! Well-done.
one....bugs.....hmmm...mosquitos...wasps....flies....grasshoppers...beees...we have had them all....some still here.....biggest BUG of them all....damm gophers in our fields.....but they leave early...thanks for sharing
Interesting take on a less than popular subject for many people! I like the ending.
oh--that's where poetry comes from!!
I guess it's a good thing I never got around to cleaning the cobwebs out of the corners.
great poem, Francis. I adore it!
an insect mahatma
committed to non-violent displacements
Awesome.
@Anne They're definitely amazing creatures... once you get past the tendency to dislike them.
@Paul I'm glad you like the language and are willing to give the insects a bit of a reprieve at least for the space of this poem :).
@Innocent I've squished a few in my day, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate them too...
@Anthony This is as creepy-crawly as I get.
@Gautami There is indeed much beauty there. Just think of the butterflies and lady bugs, among others.
@Derrick They're always there, just most times hidden :)
@Cynthia I have my itchy moments thinking about them at night too.
@Julie Most bugs are pretty non-violent... much more so than we humans ;).
@Nathan Thanks so much. I'm looking forward to writing to the interesting photo prompt you posted this week.
@Deb Thanks for the praise and the wonderful prompt. Lying definitely can be a boon to the imagination.
@Briarcat I did have a lot of fun with this one.
@David I'm glad the sounds fit the subject. There is some irony in the fact that humans can be repulsed over such innocent creatures.
@Linda I'm a big proponent of shared living spaces, though not so much with bugs in real life. I'm glad the use of consonants came across.
@Joanne I've tinkered with the idea of recording audio of my poems, but I think I'd need to find someone who can do a better reading.
@Tumblewords Those are both good responses :).
@Mallery Thanks... I definitely aspire to musicality. Song lyrics have had as much influence on me as poetry.
@Nicole I'm a hopeless romantic about the stranger things in life :).
@Therese Nested tall tales, yes. Layered lying ;).
@Wayne They can be destructive and annoying, but they're just being themselves.
@Donna That's been proved by some of the comments. I'm glad I could at least for a few moments change some people's minds about bugs.
@Angie My poetry comes from some odd places. I actually never kill spiders and centipedes because they hunt down the bugs... natural exterminators. I'm very glad you enjoyed this.
@JoanneM Much obliged... thank you.
@Wayne
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