ODE Poem: ODE TO A WORM, by Thalia Patrinos

When something from the back of my fridge reeks,
I will banish it to the compost bin.
Its existence I will forget for weeks,
But unseen magic is brewing within.
When I finally return to the scraps
And probe the contents with my shovel blade,
—Behold! What surfaces? Something squiggles!
And around my finger wraps.
A squirmy worm is here. My day is made!
Poetry in motion — er, in wiggles.

I can’t suppress my joy when worms emerge
From inside my lime rinds or coffee grinds.
Their presence means my waste is on the verge
Of becoming dirt — how it blows my mind!
Their tubelike bodies are perfect machines
For breaking down eggshells and carrot tops.
One man’s trash is another worm’s tasty treat,
And O, how this dish is divine!
So never fear if your lot starts to rot,
Somewhere is a worm it’s dying to meet!

Author: poetryfest

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