Terry Flood Poet Rhyme

Wings of Hell

[This is based on a true story from some years ago…
Some elaboration involved… oh… and nothing got
Splatted.]

                                   *

I sat there busy typing, some poetry and that
And suddenly I’m dive bombed by a massive hairy bat
If it wasn’t flying round I’d swear it was a rat
But maybe I exaggerate… not quite as big as that
My hair was blowing in the breeze that blasted from each wing
I prayed it wouldn’t bite my neck, I hoped it wouldn’t sting
I’m ducking and I’m flinching as the thing attacked my face
I wondered if this was the end of the human race
But then I got some gumption and I knew what I must do
I coshed it with a newspaper and whacked it with a shoe
I had a beer to celebrate, ‘Take that,’ I had to mutter
Some went down the wrong way and it made me cough and splutter
My wife brought in some linctus, one for cold and one for cough
And then she asked me if I’d seen that HUMUNGOUS Hawk Moth


18 January 2022
Contest: Insects
Sponsor: Angela Tune

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Lindsay Laurie January 25, 2022 at 2:57 PM Hello Terry ... I can understand your desire to ward off that creature. I was nearly asleep one night and in the dark, a large moth landed on my face and kept fluttering. Nearly had to replace the sheets - enjoyed your poem Terry - Lindsay Terry Flood January 25, 2022 at 5:55 PM I so nearly called this ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ but two things stopped me…. 1) the bat was a moth, and 2) Plagiarism. And then we lost Meatloaf. Weird! Glad you enjoyed, Lindsay. Terry

Connie Marcum Wong January 20, 2022 at 8:30 PM I can relate. I was being dive bombed by a mosquito hawk and my husband said it won’t hurt you. Let’s just go to sleep. As soon as we turned out the lights it flew right to my lips. Couldn’t sleep after that until he was found. I loved your humorous story. Congratulations on your wonderful win Terry. Blessings xxoo Terry Flood January 21, 2022 at 3:16 PM Thanks, Connie. That thing wouldn’t relent. In the end I had to open the patio doors and turn out the light. I must have sat in the dark for an age before it went off in search of the moon or a street lamp or some such thing. Luckily, I lived to tell the tale. WE ARE BOTH SURVIVORS… we should get badges! ;-) Terry

Eve Roper January 20, 2022 at 7:38 PM oh, so , funny... We had the bats fly round at night we always had to duck. Congratulations on your win. Blessings Terry Flood January 21, 2022 at 3:19 PM Thanks, Eve. Could have done with a bat that day… mind you, that moth might have eaten the bat! Terry

Heidi Sands January 19, 2022 at 3:06 PM LoL. This story had my attention.! It made me think of when I lived on a lake and bats would swoop around in the evening. Also, years ago at Carl's Bad Caverns a bat got stuck in a woman's hair bun! I can picture your story and then hawk moth, lol. You did well with writing this :) Terry Flood January 19, 2022 at 3:50 PM Hi, Heidi, I actually think most bats are pretty cute, but this massive moth was so in my face I thought I was in danger of swallowing it. That thing would have been lunch and dinner all in one. Glad you enjoyed. Terry

Ilene Bauer January 19, 2022 at 1:52 PM ha! you tell a good story, terry! love the way you've related this one... Terry Flood January 19, 2022 at 2:55 PM Thanks, Ilene. I’m not afraid of insects or buzzy things, but that Hawk Moth was immense. I was sat at the dining room table and the room light was more or less above my head. That thing definitely saw me as a target…. Only consolation was that I was seemingly brighter that a hundred watt lightbulb. Terry

L Milton Hankins January 19, 2022 at 11:52 AM Incredible, Terry. It brought to mind the time I opened my mouth and swallowed a gnat. It wouldn't come up and it wouldn't go down. But it made for a devilish cough. Terry Flood January 19, 2022 at 11:56 AM Thanks, Milt. I had doubted it’s sheer unadulterated brilliance and removed it, but a voice from above told me to repost it… Ta Da!