Best Centipedes Poems
"Aurora Spills"
Aurora spills like a waterfall
light from the eyes
saltwater tears
crocodilian
scaled in the weight of worth
a drop in the ocean of fate
breaks the seaweed fields of stories
they wave her in
rippling time away
fingertips dance mesmerising
the stinging strangers
wrapped around her legs
treading water in deep
infested notions
the coolness of
irreverent nonchalance
romantic or not
pulls her under covers
like warm blankets
heavy comfort
calls the broken
floating towards
the shabby matrix
new gates of life open
mirrors crack like eggs
the vision reflects
both light and dark
demon and saint
their remnants
embers, still
in the coldness
of prickly gloaming
like glow worm glen
fireflies red and glowing
sparks ignite
a rapturous bushfire
from cinders
billy tea leaves overturned
empty cups read
the yolk of a heart
never lies
fried casually
by the over easy
in shallow pans
of poetry
under microscopes
of blithe mordant critique
minute shards of gold
are slowly sifted
from the flotsam dross
some wisdom found
in the muddy fertile mind
shooting up
from 6ft underground
like small green plants
growing under rocks
with centipedes and
the petulant poison of spiders
in pink reflection
insurgence blooms
war never waits
silently the Pandoras smile
understanding all and nothing
of a small life distended,
swelling love
for that which was stolen
where bursting broken blue weeds
undo frozen jewels
diamonds sharp for the cutting
shiny words spells of insanity
delicious moments
melting time swallowed
spoken without voice
listening to ghosts
scratching through walls
where life floods
from glass boxes
coffins of buried treasure
banished
kaleidoscope colours
overgrowing
(LadyLabyrinth / 2022)
“The Lady in the Lake”/ Elysian Fields
https://youtu.be/IjX8xfZ7sg0
“Out of whose womb came the ice
And the hoary frost of heaven
Who hath gendered it
The waters are hid as with a stone
And the face of the deep is frozen”
LYRICS/ “The Lady in the Lake”, Elysian Fields
https://genius.com/Elysian-fields-lady-in-the-lake-lyrics
She was always there
with her big green eyes
Looking up at me
and into the skies.
Her dreams were of birds
and of prowling about.
I tried keeping her in
but she always got out.
She would hide on the roof
to hunt unwary prey
then gift them to me
in her honoring way.
Sometimes I screamed loudly
at the gifts that she offered
centipedes, roaches and mice
were some things she proffered.
Praises were always followed
by special kitty treats.
While I pleaded with her
to make no repeats.
She always stood guard
as if to give me protection
and would curl up close to me
to offer her affection.
Oh Lilly, sweet Lilly
please continue to purr
and I will continue
to stroke your soft fir.
As her song would begin
well, it made me cry.
I’ll miss her every day
until the day that I die.
November 24, 2014
Ragged thoughts marching like stoned centipedes.
To the slag heap of the lost.
Intertwined with eternity's brine.
Waiting to reunite with meaning.
A lightning strike- mind o fire.
Insomnia rapes the dream.
Splay the centipedes across the page.
Like autumn leaves o'er vampire graves
or twitching feet in a gyrus maze.
The destiny of brilliant beams
is the outback of the furthest ... reach...
Sadistic magicians pulling diamonds
back into centipedes.
Was that mark on my skin there yesterday?
There is no way for me to remember
A tattoo my shoulder did once display
Seemed to have disappeared last December
Now a red blemish is atop my hand
It resembles an octopus with wings
In bizarre motions it flaps when I stand
Fear to my heart this gruesome creature brings
But the octopus does not fly alone
There are centipedes, spiders and the like
Each day these ugly markings seem to clone
Apparently I’m no longer a tyke
If you need a tattoo, I’ve some to spare
More vivid they are as I lose my hair
*Written September 14, 2016 for Sara’s contest
The funniest thing I ever did see
Was a couple of centipedes in love
Walking hand in hand in hand in hand
in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in
hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in
hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in
hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in
hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in
hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in
hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in
hand in hand in hand in hand in handin hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in
hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in
hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand in hand
©Jack Ellison 2012
Selected by the swift sound of hand to shoulder blade,
The bells upon their ankles sounded like seven trumpets
to me. I had been a chosen sheep among the Shepherd’s flock.
Lead me my Pharisees, I wish to see feel the glee in following
the Lamb within me.
The weight of my new necklace, crudely crafted of twine and timber,
swayed in a schism'd rhythm between my shins
bruises born from my steadfast faith. For I have never fasted
Before, all there was in my Ziploc bag was a single raw egg,
Two slices of wonderbread, three matches with no book.
I heard fireflies bounce in the air between my ears,
I could not see, you see I was blindfolded, but I felt no fear.
The marching sounds stopped, balsam trees surrounded me
and the rest of the chosen tribe.
Night befell the evening, the stars jumped and danced for me
For the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty, His strength
flowed like the river Jordan in my veins. I had no chains.
Never had I felt grace like this before.
We awoke with gnats in our nose, centipedes between our toes
We arose, and our trials we must undergo.
Silence is the sound of our worship, broken by the
wood bashing between our bitten legs.
The kindling was wet, the bread was stale,
forging for food in the raspberry bushes, hunger flashed
in front of my eager eyes.
Memorize second Corinthians, some stories
I no longer care to remember. I felt the splinters
in my shins, the twine singed the hairs of my neck.
The breeze swung between the leaves and sung chants
that worshiped the King amongst kings.
The counselor crept out of the brush, and with
immense embarrassment I flushed
any of the chances of becoming one of the chosen few.
I could not immerse myself within the verses.
His eyes struck disappointment deep into my gut,
his knife drawn I knew I was cut.
The log crashed to the ground like lightning, the
twine left my skin red and raw. It felt like the
sting of a thousand roses thrust upon my nape.
My cross was no longer mine to bear, it was the end
I didn’t care.
I didn’t care.
I didn’t care.
I descended from the shining hill, back to
the cabins and basketball nets. I had failed.
There is a creek I will never wade, never cross,
I drowned in my disdain, my faith may be lost.
Another camper, another kid, lost in the flock
of the Shepherd’s failed kin.
I lay in bed and what do I see
A spider walking right above me
It is a huge and fleshy one
In the morning it would be gone
I see more creepy crawlies again
They are really becoming a pain
Wood lice are walking along the path
When I have seen them I need a bath
I can’t stand insects of any kind
They nearly send me out of my mind
I know they exist and they are there
But I don’t want them anywhere
In the garden it’s full of ants
I really don’t want them in my pants
Centipedes well what can I say
Too many legs so keep them away
Live and let live I know it’s true
I don’t mind whatever they do
But please don’t let them come near me
I can’t stand creepy crawlies you see
Classes scattered throughout the week,
learning the right way to speak.
People swarm in hoards,
living in brick-walled wards.
Allegedly adults,
without the results.
More space to learn who to be,
strong hands guiding us how to see.
Plenty of peers,
all trying to find their own careers,
Each group has their flaws,
some bending the laws.
But it will be fun they say
I just shrug and walk away.
to try the next group.
Classes are one to three hours,
but the homework towers.
No car, no cash
lots of stress, and still in class.
Join our political movement,
without us, there can be no improvement
opinions cover the walls,
you can try to argue if you've got the balls.
How do people not know how to use a hammer,
Its 2 am and they are making a clamor.
deadlines creep and crawl
like centipedes on the wall
Roommate needs the room for a while,
I come back and the smell is vile.
get soundproof headphones
they block the sound of needy hormones.
Computer broke,
why is it pouring out smoke?
Assignment due in the morning
overheating warning?
me and the computer both
"It's a life lesson"
Oh thanks, what a blessing.
No cats to cuddle the stress away
it's hard to not dismay.
One more day
one more week
I can say
the pattern gets bleak.
But time will pass
I just need to survive this class.
Buttercups are dancing to singing daffodils
King Neptune, with his trident, is surfing down a hill
Rabbits playing hopscotch with rainbow coloured frogs
Snails with sparkly spinning shells slither along gold logs.
Wolves in sheep's clothing are bleating nonstop,
Four hyenas harmonise, in a barbers shop.
Centipedes were newly crowned; Kings Of Tug Of War
While spiders spin silk candy floss for their online store.
A pony with a sore throat, was sounding rather hoarse
Moles queued to play nine rounds on Trumps new golf course.
The parrot kept repeating the same unfunny joke
The magician did his magic tricks with a talking cloak.
I came across a chip tree, surrounded by a moat
Where fish were reading newspapers in a paper boat
The moat is filled with batter and when a fish goes in,
A sudden blast of dragon's breath, cooks and seals the fish within.
I thanked a praying mantis, who had taught me self-defence
Only then to realize, none of this made any sense.
I blamed it on the late night snack before I went to bed
Then said goodnight, to the squid, that's curled around my head.
19.05.22
Sgt. Bedlam of heavy artillery reporting sir
Bedlam I want you to pick the runt of the litter
and turn him into an agent assassin
with the clandestine power of hypnotism
yes Generalissimo I am here to obey
decked out like a burlesque revue warlord
his Mauser cigar lighter on his belt
a curlicue mustache and a pie tin helmet
Opal his opium fiend gun moll squirming in his lap
was our Generalissimo
Bedlam weighed the coming abrasions
concluded we are our scars and furthermore
if adaptation is survival so is parasitism
cleared his throat noisily and bowed an exit
later that fate laden candle lit night
he made a deep study of his globes and charts
Europa Asia Oceana the Steppes the Savannah
the Scorched Hills of Malibu
a map addict re-educated in the cleanup of '89
his bell-shaped curve insisted love me
server and served a beautiful thing
if one enjoyed giant jungle arachnids and leeches
and centipedes that crawl up your butt
to lay millions of eggs when you sleep
where the laws of physics become
a tumbling burbling retinal stew
geysering steam and sulfur and mud and
where was I oh yah
yet a thing of beauty was Opal to Bedlam
he heard scratching and purring at the door
it was she incognito in an iguana skin
we must escape this hideous circus of shame
she coo coo rooed as her tongue dove into
the holy fissure in his brain
and he threw caution to the feral hogs
forgetting good posture he oozed upon Opal
I bet you think you make your own decisions
she cloyed and again he tossed caution
into a cauldron of grunting mammalian rut
for several hours perhaps the entire weekend
it's easy to rewire a human
you just give them a little epiphany
and bingo ownership
his hypnotic gambit paid off in ducats
the Generalissimo slept like a corpse
the pet centipedes concluded their labors
his ex-kingdom rejoiced at their new liberty
and that's anarchy for ya
From "Engine of Didactic Beauty" available on Amazon
Artist Portfolio: http://walteralter.byethost32.com/
EXHAUSTED = Ted's all worn out
EMBARRASSES = Them bare asses
CRESCENDO = Toothpaste in your endo
HAPPINESS = Happy with your private male part
PISTOL = Charge for going pee
FOOTAGE = How old is your foot
EDUCATION = Studying while on vacation
FORTUNATE = Ate four tunas
ALTERATIONS = Change rations
INFORMATION = All lined up in a row
REGISTRATE = Reginald is heterosexual
PHOTOGRAPH = Picture of a chart
DICTIONARY = Never shun your private part
CAREER = Back end of a car
EXPOSURE = Formerly poop for sure
WINDOWPANE = Ow that wind is painful
POLITICIANS = A parrot who shuns the limelight
BLOCKBUSTERS = People who get in the way of a bus
ANNIVERSARY = Backside on backwards
CANADIAN = Ian is a good adder
OPPORTUNITY = Oh a poor choice of a nitty gritty tune
PERPETUAL = Average price of pets in the deep south
CENTIPEDES = Price per foot of a cheap pair of shoes
MISCELLANEOUS = A missile aimed at our back end
© Jack Ellison 2014
I din't travel by bus to school
Neither did my mother drive me there
With my friends and cousins
I had the best of childhood fun
During my primary school days
On my way to school
Early start from home
The tropical sun was warm
Kids from the neighborhood
Joined as we marched by
To feel the magic of the forest
On my way to school
Avoiding the main road
And the cobbled village lane
Away from the adult eyes
Swayed by the occult cries
Of the magic creepy crawlies
On my way to school
Shuffling through the silky webs
Of the watchful Arachno- spies
Slowing at the sight of scorpions
And the scurrying beetles and centipedes
We bent and crawled in the woods
On our way to school
The subtle sweet taste
Of the wild cardamoms
Was hardly enough to suck
and spit the pungent seeds
Yet it was a weird delicacy
On my way to school
Shiny purple Passion fruits
Velvety blue wild olives
Inky violet Bovitiyas
Rasamora and blackberries
Stimulated the taste buds
On my way to school
The years have gone by
Dwellings have reached the sky
Cobbled lane has disappeared
Motor cars are revered
I wander what the kids do now
On their way to school
Rare, essential expensive minerals embedded deep down in the core of 3
dimensional mountains, silver owls, platinum falcons, waterfalls-n-streams,
poisonous leaves tufa fermented into stream, a tongue less unfrozen tundra
evaporated from hunger, copper chocolate-n-brass coconut cream from
copper-n-brass coconut trees, pink roses, white butterflies-n-orange bumble
bees, islands, oceans,-n-seas, a voluptuous life mix with the briskness of a
Saint Lucia breeze, onyx-n-rubies inhale the panache of centipedes,
outlandishly eating at my vanity, grails of golden milk, the riches of snail-n-
spider silk, colorful canopies draped over killer Brahma bulls exhaling my
sanity, I allowed this earth to breathe, you see lightening only when the
Heaven’s are allowed to sneeze, ain't a moon, earth, sun, or galaxy worth
more than me or worth more than she, priceless my wife-n-me, I bow down 2
my missing rib, for my wife’s worth more than me, ain’t a mineral in this earth
worth more 2 me than she, priceless my she, my better me.
Half my
Life
My wife
In natures gazette,
Colony of centipedes;
Shoe salesman wanted,
Brown black centipedes crawl from within the white washed walls
Their shadows, creeping and quick, are cast througout the halls
Echoing thoughts bring a crashing sound to my ears, clattering
Music buried deep evokes what my mind hears, shattering
Rumpled white sky drifts like a melting glacier, carved flat
Or floats like a wiffle ball hit by this Summer game's yellow bat
Like this golden silver streak that now threads the monet-like sky
Emerging fire I behold with my stupored, half-shut eyes
The breeze tickles my doughy molded face with the stinging red roses
After a day journeying inward, my shelled body reposes
Encased like a cracked but unbroken nut, fading after the sun has ripened
And this hummus colored sun, now amber rose as it sinks, spreads the horizon
And the surrounding land, its bumpy rough edges and valleys, is slowly widening