Insect Poetry Assignment

by Liz LaRosa

www.middleschoolscience.com

 
 
"I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man."
Chuang-Tzu, 396-289 B.C.
 
Your assignment is to choose 2 of the 4 writing assignments:
Shiny Green Bugs

There are many kinds of little bugs.
Shiny green ones are the best.
Iridescent exoskeletons
Are prettier than the rest.

Sometimes I wonder how it would feel
To have extra arms, and wings!
What would I do if I was like that?
Some wonderful lovely things!

I would fly in to your living room
To see what was on the wall.
I would look for something good to eat
My antennae tasting all!

I would fly out to your garden beds
And check out all your flowers.
Where can I go? I must lay my eggs!
For I will be dead in hours!

I'd see roses in a pretty hue;
With shoots that are tender and bare
I'd extend my ovipositor,
Deposit my eggs right there.

They have very short lives, little bugs
But they also have no concern.
For with every metamorphosis
They will get another turn.
© 1995 by Alan R. Turner. All Rights Reserved
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Don't Bug Me - By Dave Mousley

 
"Don't bug me, man !  I know your twisted little game !" the fly called out to the spider

"Why, I wouldn't dare !"  Daddy Long Legs retorted and looked to be insulted. "I'm not the insect-eating type.  I wouldn't harm a Katy-did. Don't now. Never will. Never did. You must have me confused with some other meaner arachnid."

"Then what's with the web, Long-Legged Daddy ?  I suppose you've spun yourself a bed ! Or, no doubt, a trampoline for my pleasure ! One leap and I'll lose both body and head," the fly then said.

The spider recoiled in mock horror,  "Murder is not in my nature.  But you're perceptive, my swift-winged friend. I've woven a couch for wanderers like yourself, a bed for weary travelers to recline on.  Sit down a spell and I'll fix us refreshments.  You can take respite and recite me your story."

"Not me !" cried the fly, "If it's one thing I have, it's good eyes and a healthy respect for spiders and webs as well as a preference for life over death."

"But don't you see the sign overhead ?"  the wily-smiling spider said.

The fly drew closer to see the words that were written in tiny threads. But as he approached them his wings became caught instead. Said the sign above his head,  "Welcome to my Web".
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LUST AND THE CATERPILLAR'S DREAM
By Susan Mackley

My mind burst today like an opened cocoon
Fresh ideas fluttered free with juvenile wings
Once disconsolate caterpillars clenched in fetal balls
Lamenting their basement-level view
Intrepid burst of energy
in manic ascent
soar to new heights
salacious sundance
libidinous
like icarus
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"fly, on his wings, like an angel. flying high, touch the sky, on his
wings, like an angel. touch the sun, on his wings, like an angel, flying
high, to the sun, like an angel, flying high!"
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Insect Haiku
(note- some of these are not exactly 5-7-5, but your haiku must be)
 
86) 
Hot Summer night 
Lightning flash! Crickets discuss 
The coming storm. 
55) 
Mosquito: drink up! 
But if you dare to sting me, 
You will surely die. 
70) 
Buzzing ebullience 
Insects swarm in dark clouds 
Feasting on life 
114) 
The brilliant butterfly 
softly alights on a 
perfect, yellow rose. 
64) 
Glowing fireflies 
light up the warm summer night 
Electric insects! 
265) 
In one day of life 
Mayflies dance upon the river 
Is our own dance more? 
220) 
Dragonfly races 
filling the air with their "whirr" 
Shimmering summer. 
377) 
tiny round shells spin 
ripple water at pond's edge 
liquid beetles dance 
360) 
now just a drizzle 
the bees in the geraniums 
are at it again 
330) 
Sleepy on the grass 
a butterfly lands on her 
delightful wonder! 
346) 
this small caterpillar 
so far from leaf to leaf. . . 
with spider watching
321) 
Still summer night... 
Butterfly around the street lamp 
dancing its last dance 

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