Warmth of Worms

Staining,

Eating,

Biting,

Licking,

Marring,

Inflicting.

Stained,

Eaten,

Bit,

Licked,

Marred,

Inflicted.

In a grave,

A lovely grave,

One with flowers,

Dressed in white.

Death is passive,

Dying, oh dying

It is active!

Killed,

Killing.

Worse than death,

Nor what causes it.

Decay,

The dirt, oh dirt!

Fills my ears,

Stains the white,

Covers the roses with fright.

The spiders, oh spiders!

Twinge and tangle,

Spinning through my web,

Twisting and tearing the skin.

Worms, oh worms!

To the corpse,

Death is passive,

Dying is active!

Worse than death,

Staining than stained,

Eating than eaten.

This worm, oh these worms!

How terrible!

Death hushes,

Pale and cold,

The earth rushes,

Blue and bold.

Warmth of the worms,

Of the spiders and dirt,

Mars me more,

Than death shall ever hurt.