A lowly worm, awakened by
past rains
had tried to crawl
across a swath of sidewalk
from patch of grass
to patch of grass. Simple enough.
But the path was longer
and more arduous than
it imagined,
(if worms like us can imagine). The distance
flush against the mucous membrane of
outer tissue (because worms are
like that) was
measured in the texture of concrete; it
died, pitifully: desiccated,
baked by will of sunshine which
dried up all the rain
before it ever reached the other side. From one
patch of grass
to the other.
Have you ever seen a worm,
in this predicament?
About the Creator
Rob Angeli
sunt lacrimae rerum et mentem mortalia tangunt
There are tears of things, and mortal objects touch the mind.
-Virgil Aeneid I.462
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Generic[?] Haiku II
fall transmuting burnt- out green of summer soon into red gold -R. Angeli *** Make the universe your companion, always bearing in mind the true nature of things--mountains and rivers, trees and grasses, and humanity--and enjoy the falling blossoms and scattering leaves. One should know that a hokku is made by combining things. The secret of poetry lies in treading the middle path between the reality and the vacuity of the the world. One must first of all concentrate one's thoughts on an object. Once one's mind achieves a state of concentration and the space between oneself and the object has disappeared, the essential nature of the object can be perceived. When you are composing a verse, let there not be a hair's breadth separating your mind from what you write. Quickly say what is on your mind; never hesitate a moment. Composition must occur in an instant, like a woodcutter felling a huge tree, or a swordsman leaping at his enemy. It is also like cutting a ripe watermelon with a sharp knife or like taking a large bite into a pear. Is there any good in saying everything? -Matsuo Basho (1644-1694) From his treatise on poetry, LEARN FROM THE PINE
By Rob Angeli2 years ago in Poets
Standing While Falling
Quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche "He who wrestles long with monsters should beware lest he himself become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Man is not destroyed by suffering, but by the meaning he makes of it."
By LUCCIAN LAYTH4 days ago in Critique
Comments (12)
I did read this when you first posted it. I had very little words at that time, to encapsulate all that it made me feel. First, of course it's literal – completely, utterly, no chance at all that this is an allegory. Nope. Not a one. I love poetry that lies to me. Because ultimately, an honest liar is just being vague for effect. So thank you, for that. I feel I was able to come back to this one and see your intention, your plea with us to see you on the sidewalk and pick you up and place you back in the grass. I hope the rains have begun again, this time from the future. Expertly crafted poem, Rob. I've missed reading you. *** I have been neglecting you and I'm sorry. Not out of any real intention, just been struggling to keep up, and have been managing, just barely, and with much inconsistency. So, again, I apologize. I hope you haven't been angry. ❤️
I love the way you were able to illustrate the plight of the earthworm!! Great work!!
Great poem!
Gosh, this made me so emotional and gave me goosebumps! So tragic and poignant!
Some former-children are guilty of eating earthworms, but I know you won't judge them-- they didn't know it was wrong!
You had me hooked from "A lowly worm" Rob! I love the lie, worms like us because it invites us to put ourselves in that position. To wonder how our efforts would look to someone with a human's eye view of us as the worm. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, from my ill and sleep deprived brain but I really liked this poem! Really gave me a lot to think about :)
Why did the earth cross the road, right? "Worms like us"--says it all! Well done.
Yes, unfortunately. Well done.
Very good, well-done
WOW !! What a great Poem .. Keep it up ..
Yes but you got to look at it from the worms point of view! I like this! A lot.
Yes, many times. Tragic. I love poems that makes the reader think of things from different perspectives. Well done!