Best Besieged Poems
Poet of Perkiomen Valley
discovered aforementioned titled poem
about thirty months ago he wrote
impossible mission critters to smote
chronic issue yours truly does note
years later meaning today
April 19th, 2022
necessitated we allow, enable
and provide welcome to exterminator
actually management did hote
(obsolete) To command; to enjoin
hazard upon body, mind and spirit,
thus ridding apartment b44
visited by said swarming insects,
his expertise sought to mitigate
courtesy applying insecticide.
Insects created dark shadows
analogous brought outer limits
of twilight zone
resembling edge of night
in truth our one bedroom apartment
at that earlier date
affected, encroached, and outsmarted
by massive infestation of
Drosophila melanogaster light
weight winged worst
pests to eradicate
(scientific name regarding
winged flitting nuisance ignite
mentioned in title) besieged,
inundated, and thickly swarm.
dost primp and pretty
fie themselves (to
attract a witty
mate) during their
40 to 50 days city,
or suburban life
cycle long enough
to qualify for this
quickly written ditty
seemingly overnight
a bajillion biz zee
buzzing adults (each
about 1/8 inch long see
their world wide web,
thru at least one
unusual red eye,
which compound eye
of the fruit fly
contains 760 unit
eyes or ommatidia, well nigh
hapt tubby one of the most
advanced among insects,
where Google search
for home remedies aye
didst find to exterminate
these teeny weeny pests,
plus informational pursuit my
instantaneous curiosity yielded
above mentioned
esoteric tidbits,
sans accidentally disc
covered helpful good riddance
material of household ingredients
restraining me to breathe sigh
of dollop, and hope to try
one or more solutions,
which informed
this amateur entomologist -
listed forthright as:
1. Create a trap by mixing
apple cider vinegar
with a few drops of dish soap.
2. Another homemade trap is to
pour leftover red wine into a jar.
3. Mash up banana slices in a jar, and
cover top with a plastic wrap.
4. Pour bleach solution
into bathroom sink.
5. Detonate atomic explosives
as a last resort.
Dark shadows akin to edge of night
affected by massive infestation of
Drosophila melanogaster light
(scientific name as
same itty bitty
winged flitting nuisance ignite
mentioned in title) besieged,
inundated, and thickly swarmed
dost primp and pretty
fie themselves (to
attract a witty
mate) during their
40 to 50 days city,
or suburban life
cycle long enough
to qualify for this
quickly written ditty
seemingly overnight
a bajillion biz zee
buzzing adults (each
about 1/8 inch long see
their world wide web,
thru at least one
unusual red eye,
which compound eye
of the fruit fly
contains 760 unit
eyes or ommatidia,
well nigh
hapt tubby one of the most
advanced among insects,
where Google search
for home remedies aye
didst find to exterminate
these teeny weeny pests,
plus informational pursuit my
instantaneous curiosity yielded
above mentioned
esoteric tidbits,
sans accidentally disc
covered helpful good riddance
material of household ingredients
restraining me to breathe sigh
of dollop, and hope to try
one or more solutions,
which informed
this amateur entomologist -
listed forthright as:
1.Create a trap by mixing
apple cider vinegar
with a few drops of dish soap.
2. Another home-made trap is to
pour leftover red wine into a jar.
3. Mash up banana slices in a jar, and
cover top with a plastic wrap.
4. Pour bleach solution
into bathroom sink.
The frenzied mongrels yapping come, teeth bare
Frightening my flesh to faint; the vomit
Seething from their disgust makes rancid air,
And liars veiled, with dark gums decrepit
Like witches romp, believing they prevailed.
And some fooled by silence join the mean mob
Permitting that faked friendship be unveiled,
While the Maroon pulse with the heart's sweet throb
And the resolve only a warrior
Ancient can know. For I do not shudder
Nor flinch, nor need Hermes as courier
To tell my defiance. I'll make fodder
Yet of the baying brood, and face to face
Meet the cowards whose ambitions are laid waste.
Now Jericho, besieged by Israel,
Had shut its doors, and none went in or out.
The LORD told Joshua, “If you’ll believe,
We’re going to bring these walls down with a shout.
His mighty men of valor are inside;
The king of Jericho also awaits.
You and your men of war shall march around
The city once a day, outside the gates.
For six days, thus you shall just hold the line,
While seven priests before you bear the ark,
But on the seventh day, we’ll mix things up,
And march around the walls from dawn till dark.
Yes, seven times around we’ll go that day,
And all the time we will not say a word,
But when the final circuit is complete,
The priests will lift their horns and make them heard.
And when the people hear the trumpet sound,
They’ll shout a mighty shout with one loud voice.
This fortress, Jericho, will see its end.
The walls will simply fall; they’ll have no choice.”
Now Joshua was faithful to the LORD,
And honored Him by bringing this report,
But one can scarce conceive his fighting men’s
Response to battle planning of this sort.
But wonders also work in people’s hearts;
The plan unfolded as the LORD conceived.
For faithfully, the LORD had led His flock,
And so they heard their leader and believed.
So for the days that numbered one through six,
The vanguard, ark, and priests all went around,
Encircling the city with their march,
They made no noise except the trumpet sound.
The seventh day arrived; long was the march,
For seven times around those walls, they went,
And when the priests set lips upon the horns,
The host cried out: one voice without relent.
And lo, it came to pass just as God said;
The walls of Jericho fell, tumbled flat.
Devotion to destruction happened next;
We’ll have a bit more to say about that.
For God had looked on Canaan as a judge,
And found them guilty of a great offense;
They gave their children over to false gods.
Incensed, His wrath against them was intense.
And so, in handing over Jericho,
He gave to Joshua a harsh command,
“You must destroy, yes, every living thing
To rid the evil in this promised land.”
So Joshua then did as he was told;
The Canaanites, once giants, now ran scared.
But he made good; Rahab befell no harm,
And her entire house, he also spared.
(from Joshua 6)
Besieged
by Michael R. Burch
Life—the disintegration of the flesh
before the fitful elevation of the soul
upon improbable wings?
Life—it is all we know,
the travail one bright season brings ...
Now the fruit hangs,
impendent, pregnant with death,
as the hurricane builds and flings
its white columns and banners of snow
and the rout begins.
Mind still after shattering storm
In the carved soul’s canyon deep
Flows the stream of sorrow silent
With memory dregs of drowned dreams
On the dry courses of tear drops etched
Beneath the melancholic eyes besieged.
August 3, 2021
Contest : Bite Size Poem No 16
Sponsor : Line Gauthier