Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A DIET OF WORMS, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A DIET OF WORMS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The caterpillars met one day
Last Line: For dinner!
Subject(s): Caterpillars; Insects; Bugs


The caterpillars met one day,
And in a very solemn way
Discussed a point of great import
To all the caterpillar sort.
"Why, as it is," one speaker said,
Up-stretching high a hoary head,
"So common is this new caprice
The wise call Metamorphosis,
The change of safe, old-fashioned ground
For silly flights on ways unsound,
That we must take wise measures soon,
Or all our race will be undone."

Another spoke: "I like to know
That what one is, he's settled so.
This crawling one day, winged the next,
What prudent worm is not perplexed?
With all these moody changes, who
Will know what form to fasten to?"

So after many long debates,
The wise assembly formulates
Its judgment thus: "Whereas, the good
Old ground whereon our fathers stood
Some upstarts are inclined to change
For loftier views and wider range,
Producing dangerous schism thus,

And constantly confusing us,
Be it Resolved, that henceforth we
Who now do covenant and agree,
Maintain ourselves inviolate
In good old caterpillar estate,
And hold as knavish, outcast things
Those rascal heretics with wings."

This signed they all with pens that burned,
And then -- and then -- they all adjourned
For DINNER!





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