Bugs
Table of contents for 4/Poetry
Bio
David Toms retired at fifty and recently began blogging to avoid having too much free time and perhaps going out of his mind. A dead poet who has not yet introduced himself formally now inhabits his brain and helps him write poetry.
Mr. Toms lives with his beautiful wife and three dogs in Richmond, Virginia. He and his wife have five children and six grandchildren at last count. They travel a great deal and these adventures are documented in his blog Virginia Breeze.
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The music (above) and the poem go together. The music is longer than the poem reading so you may want to read it more than once.
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Bugs
When he was eight in the 50’s
His gang dug long ditches
And covered them
With boards and dirt.
You needed a password to get in.
His mother was afraid.
Her child was underground
And possibly food for worms
If the construction methods
Were not up to date.
So he was sentenced to the back yard
Alone. Behind some bushes
He dug his own place
But had no boards so used
A few branches and straw.
Then his little sister wandered by
And fell through the ceiling and cried.
His father felt he had tried to capture her
In a pit like a wild animal
So he was beaten with a belt
In the cellar and he cried.
Later he went out in the yard
And relaxed in the grass
With his arms thrown wide
Looking at the sky
Letting the mosquitoes bite
Until it didn’t hurt anymore.
The bites became kisses
And the pain went away.
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A few days later he became ill
And his mother was alarmed.
She called the doctor
And he called the hospital.
The boy went there for weeks
And nearly died.
Peacefully.
He had a nice time
A vacation as everyone
Sat by his bed.
Perhaps even thought
About the place he might go
And all his new friends
Amid safe construction
Methods. Underground.
Recovery was slow
But he ran once again.
And his parents learned
A valuable lesson.
Don’t hold too close
The ones whom you love.
Or you may find
They have left you
Above.
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Bugs is a submission to Poets Wear Prada for an Anthology Selection- BUGS
Update// So what’s up? Did you all fall asleep? What do you think about this post? Is it just plain idiotic? Does it relate to anything you ever experienced? What do you think?
Or are you sleeping at your keyboard? Has passivity taken over your life? Are you dreaming about next summer already? What’s happening there boys and girls? I can’t HEAR you?
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4 responses so far
Outstanding Dave! Hits close to home!
D L Enniss last blog post..Lost in Darkness
Thanks Mr. Ennis. We look at the “happy” side of life so much around here. I thought it was time to take a little peak at the other side. Haha.
Somehow this reminded me of my childhood… but in a nice way and without the beating or cellar…. but the password… and the secret world of childhood.
Truddles last blog post..Peeking in…
Yes. Truddle. That is true.