Paid No Favours

A clique of limp, dim-witted
noncomposmentis-poeticus
insects invaded the sweet
and sacred place. They were

recently hatched, hormonally
inspired, swarmed in seasonal clouds
of soured bile – feeding greedily
on the crumbs and the leavings of

yesterday’s feast – mixed freely
with their own excrement. Today
they gaze vacantly at an abandoned
tent blankly, uncomprehending.

Despite their lack-lustre wit displayed
in a derisory gaudiness, courted rituals
of barren ideas with foul jest, they
made no amendment, paid no favours.
© 15 October 2007, I. D. Carswell

*Stink Bug Picture:

Graphosoma italicum

Pentatomidae