Worms

Tags

Australian poet, Can of worms, Nightmares, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet

Worms

Once all the worms, in cans were tightly sealed;
For those invertebrates would cause us harm.
But cans are opening, and there revealed,
The slimy creatures. Some sound the alarm,
But most say: “Do not panic, please stay calm.
The worms will not destroy us – they’re benign;
They even have a certain wormy charm;
Keep opening the cans — all will be fine —
Now try this rich ricotta with your wine.”
The worms all congregate and reproduce,
As on the riches of the host they dine,
Until the last imprisoned worm’s let loose!
I scream: “What is that crawling in my head!”
I’d best not drink that home-brew before bed.

– D.N. O’Brien

Destruction of a Nightmare

Tags

Australian poet, Destruction of Sennacherib, George Gordon Lord Byron, Nightmares, poem, poetry, Virus

{Sorry once more Lord Byron}

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐞

The virus arrived like a thief in the night,
And the chaos it caused was a terrible sight,
For the people all trembled and half of them fled
As the streets they were strewn with the armies of dead.

And my skin turned to parchment and all fell away,
And my eyes that were green suddenly turned to grey,
And my flesh it dissolved and my sight it grew dim,
And paralysis spread to each germ-ravaged limb.

And mad mobs and police roamed the virulent streets.
(I stole this driving rhythm from Byron — not Keats)
Soon a zombie looked at me and I matched his stare,
Then he lifted his axe — it was too much to bear!!!!

I awoke with a scream, and I flicked on the light,
And I stared out the window and into the night.
No dead bodies, no rioting mobs and no fire,
And no last requiem issued forth from a choir.

All was tranquil and silent — as quiet as a mouse,
With the prisoners safely locked-down in each house.
All quite safe should the virus come down on the fold.
Then I sneezed: damn and blast! Am I getting a cold?

— D.N. O’Brien

Destruction of Sennacherib in song