Maggots' Mom
71
Maggots' Mom
Once upon a cow corpse dead
A fly crawled in its rotting head.
Her thorax downward did she sit
And for a moment seemed to shit.
But from her moistened cervix came
What was not rice, though looked the same.
No, none of that was what she shat
For only eggs lay where she sat.
And in a day from those did come
What was not one nor two but some.
A writhing cloud of larvae born
Full filled that skull from horn to horn.
Within that nasty, stinking rot
A thousand maggots she’d begot.
A gross and fleshy writhing host
Our Mama fly could surely boast.
Perhaps a thousand more would come
Before the day could count the sum.
Proliferation like no mammal can,
One at a time, is the lot of Man;
At best a twin or some triplets more
Rare is the birth that gives us four,
But not that fly, no, she births with force
Needing hardly any intercourse.
True, she hails from a vile species
That makes its babies in piled feces
And yes that skull, ‘tis a nasty sight
Like a churning brain of living white,
But in the miracle that is giving Life
She is the most abundant wife.
Existence flowers with her every breath
And lives she brings from rot and death.
Author's Note
I realize that more than a few will have found that gross. I hope that a few others will have found it funny. But, gross and funny aside, it is tribute to life that is genuine (and more than passingly inspired by Robinson Jeffers’ poem “The Vulture”). I sit here today only scant hours from holding my newborn grandson. My first grandson. And, while perhaps there are those who would wrinkle up their brows and say, “A fine tribute to the newly arrived boy, much less to his mother, that you post this!” But, it’s not really a commentary on human birth as being less prolific. It’s more a celebration of just being. Fly or human, it makes no difference. It’s just amazing to be alive.
There may turn out in the end, to be nothing after we die. I’d like to hope there is something, but reason and logic often play upon such hope, upon anything nearing faith, and suggest that, it’s at least plausible that this is all we get. Just this. And what if that is true? What if there is no heaven? No reincarnation. No anything?
If that is the case (and don’t panic my friends of Faith, I’m just posing it as a possibility—one that, if you cannot bear to see it, makes me fear for the strength of that very thing you hold so dear), then, paying some tribute to just the great fortune of being seems in order on this day. This is my celebration of our great opportunity to do something that might be a singularity in a vast, vast universe: the singularity of living.
If it is so, if this is all there is, then we do share something with even the lowliest of creatures. There are more stars in the sky then there are all of us living on this planet, from the most gifted of us to the nastiest of creepy-crawly things. So, today, I celebrate it all. Yes, with an “ewww” and yes, with a tongue placed firmly in my cheek. But I celebrate.
If you enjoyed this, check out:
- Shadesbreath's Facebook Page
While not typically a poet (even I even count as one now), I am known for humorous writing in various form. Keep up with the latest satire, rants, raves and the occasional bit on writing craft and industry. Click over, click like, and say "hi." - daultonbooks.com
My writing website. Check out my latest novels, short stories, novellas, humor, or just check out the blog and see what's coming next. While there, have a look The Galactic Mage, my new book! (Check out the video trailer below)
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (3)
- Funny (7)
- Awesome (5)
- Beautiful (3)
- Interesting (5)
CommentsLoading...
I'll be honest.....I was not going to hit the beautiful button until your brought up the gorgeous baby:) lol. But awesome, funny, interesting were obvious - if a cow dies in my yard then it might even be useful!
Very funny!!
Your poem went wonderful with my morning coffee :) After reading this I have a great need to go and bleach my garbage cans :)
Congrats on your new grandson!
Grandpa, I have only one word - Yuck. But I would take the cow head if it has a nice set of horns.
Hi Mark. Fortunately for my grandson, they didn't allow me any influence, else he might have ended up with something as absurd as that. Committed to comedy until the very end, the poor boy might have cause for revenge in his later years, likely brought about with skills I helped him acquire. Oh the irony.
Well, RealHousewife, if a cow dies in your yard, you have a valuable natural resource come the end of times next year as I believe it has been scheduled by the Mayans. :) I'm glad you found a way to enjoy this through the grossness factor. I realize I'm asking a lot of latitude from readers on this one.
Just Ask Susan, being a NON morning person as I am, I can't imagine anything better suited to waking up then a cogitation on maggots with your coffee. I think the bleach isn't in the spirit of the poem, but it does make perfect sense (I'd tell you about the garbage bag we found that fell out of our can and our teenager didn't bother to pick it up for two weeks, and how full and teeming it was, but you might not want to hear about that,so I won't mention it at all).
Hi Austinstar: Yes, a nice longhorn skull is pretty cool. You could mount it on the hood of your car. Goes perfect with your name too!
I was thinking about compost! They do a lot of that in Missouri Shades:) lol
Hey my birthday is 12/21 - so in 2012 - BIG survival party at my house! Bring a aurvival item and your golden. Bring the cow and the baby - that would be food and entertainment!
I have, indeed, found it funny, but never had the chance to reach the gross stage, as I became engrossed by your boundless talent.
I am green with envy at so much ability on your part. Not to mention Lauren and her talent, which must obviously flow in rivers through the Shadesbreath family veins.
And I thought that you were too young to have a grandson, but since you are not, Mazel Tov! (I hope the only Jewish word I know is applicable in this instance). May your grandson grow up to be as gifted as his grandparents and his aunt Lauren ;-)))
(I include your wife in the "gifted" part, becasue she had the ability to know a gem when she saw it and to grab it). :-)
This poem was hysterically funny. I truly loved it.
JT
The most lyrical, highly sophisticated gross out ever; and I do like your philosophy on life and death. Live to the fullest, enjoy the nachas.
Beautifully written poetry on maggotts. Wait, did I just say those two words together? Seriously, your writing is amazing! Loved the hub :-)
LOL RealHousewife, what a thing to bring to a party. "Hey, hi everybody. ... Hey Fred, what's happening. Sandy, nice to see you. ... Oh, so, uh yeah, RealHousewife, I brought this dead cow dripping with maggots and seeping fluids everywhere, where you want me to put it?" lawl!
De Greek, you are too kind. I will leap upon your praise of my daughter's skills though. She's blowing my mind how much better she gets month after month. She's consumed with her art, it's all she EVER does. She just works and works and works. We're hoping to get her into Cal Arts or another really kickass program. (And yes, apparently I am old enough to be a grandpa, even if I'm barely hitting mid forties. lol).
JT, I'm glad you found it funny. This sort of thing, you write it, hope its funny but kind of wonder if you're going to be the only one in the room laughing when you hit publish.
Hi Green Lotus. I try to be as lyrically gross as I can whenever possible. I figure its my contribution to the arts. :D
Yes, Minnetonka Twin, you said those words together. Juxtaposition is FUN! lol. It's something I play with a lot. My last hub was the same kind of thing, except with voice vs. content. Sometimes you get it right, sometimes not. We'll see how these two pan out over time. Thanks for reading and commenting.
No Way!! Shadesbreath, you are too good for that. We all love your writings and laugh with you.
JT
Whew! Thanks, JT. :D
I loved this, Shades! Voted up!
Hi Habee. I'm glad you liked it. It's been so poorly visited, I feared I might have to pull it down once the judging was done, but, thanks to your belated visit and kind words, I reread it myself and think that perhaps I will let it go on, its own life given to the Internet universe to be whatever it is, low or lofty. Think how ironic it would have been for me to kill it because it might be ugly.
Hey Shades, I saw the title on this once before and then realized it was poetry? :O And, wasn't sure if I wanted to actually read it, even though in the past you've never disappointed. I do like the message in your author's note, which is actually better than your prose. LOL! So, I voted you up and marked all of your marks available. In an odd way, it was not beautiful, but the author's note made up for the topic "maggot". :P
I don't know why, but the rest of my comment didn't show up. I added that I love Jeffers - especially "Hurt Hawks."
You should definitely leave this published! As for not having a lot of visits, I think people were sort of overwhelmed by all the entries. What I consider my best entry, "Sins of the Father," hasn't been read by a lot of hubbers, either, but it's had a few comments from my FB pals.
Sorry, Shady, I have more to say. I really like the juxtaposition of life and death here. Sure, some will view maggots as vile and nasty, but can't all life on earth be seen as beautiful - or at least, useful and part of the cycle?
Hey Cags, I don't blame you. I avoid poetry hubs pretty much on principle, so, expecting anyone to read this is pure hypocrisy on my part anyway. LOL. And, I have to say, the amusing part of this for me was the irony of how un-beautiful it is while, with that note, somehow, maybe, it is. Possibly. LOL. Hey, all I can do it toss it out there, right?
Habee, Jeffers rocks. Part of me thinks he's a Carmel lefty, but, he's still amazing, which speaks to how awesome he must be to overcome my upbringing. lol. As for the lost stuff in the contest, I concur. My Twilight spoof is probably the best thing I've put up on here and it's barely limping along, likely destined for a sad, lonely death. Though I will find a way to work it. I think it would make a great estory... so, there you go. And on your second comment, you get it perfectly. So, thank you for that. I'm going to go check out your "sins of the father" now.
I have no idea how I missed this gem...but thanks for making me go "urp" and laugh at the same time. It's kinda funny because I've always thought newborns were more larval form than human....belated congrats though :) I've seen the pics on FB...a real cutie! (the baby...sheesh)
LOL. Yes, I agree, they are sort of larval for the first few months. :D Glad you found it. Nothing makes me happier than knowing I've nearly made a woman throw up.
Has Disney contacted you yet? Seriously, this has all the makings of a great theme song to rival "Circle of Life" (Lion King). And now that you are a proud grandpa* you will be back in Disney mode before you know it. Might as well cash in, eh?
*Congrats!! For some reason I thought your kids were mere tykes. Time flies when flies turn larval. Or something. Life marches/wriggles/crawls on.
Voted up. My kind of poem!! MM
LOL, yeah, all my larvae are big, sweaty, poop-eating flies now.
U must be so proud :-).
LOL yes. Chips off the old block... with a chip now that's chipped off the chip. :D
I thought someone had named their child Maggot! The only reason I visited was because I saw it in my feed shared by Cags some time ago I must say it was grotesquely funny!
It's always nice to know I can still gross out the ladies. :D
LOL!!!!! I need to start reading your poetry to start my day--hilarious stuff. Voted up.
Thanks for your patronage of the, uh, fine arts as it were, but, I think you're almost out of poetry after the two you found. lol.
Well, get writing! Haha
I actually wrote some crappy poetry into my novel today. LOL. Probably won't make the cut, but it came out in the draft.
Well, I'd love to read it either way! Haha
Oh you will, you beta reader of mine!
You already know I will! :)
Mark Ewbie Level 7 Commenter 6 months ago
At first I thought you had already christened your grandson Maggot, and it's not a bad name although slightly off the wall. So the poem was a relief in a way.
I liked it, all life is amazing, even flies. Not spiders obviously.