Who Needs the Islamic State?
Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem
“Severed heads: The green and orange Elysia marginata sea slug is capable of decapitating itself when its body becomes infected with parasites, scientists say. Still more bizarrely, the head gets around fine without its body. In three weeks, it regenerates a new body, perfectly functioning and parasite-free.” ~ The New York Times, March 8, 2021
If I could cut my head off, could I lose
The parasites that plague me and have done
So all my days? A lot of them accuse
Me. They imply that I should use a gun
For my escape from them. There’d be no pain
They tell me. Metal balls from cartridge or
The bullet through my head would blast my brain
To bits of pulp against the wall. Some poor
Emergency subordinate would clean
It up. But then there’d be no chance to live
Again without those parasites. It’s mean
To think so selfishly. So I should just forgive
Myself for what they’ve done to me and then
Regenerate myself . . . and try again.