Dulce et Floridum Est

                  Dulce et Floridum Est

The hometown rocks the cradle of his dreams

But not because he hankers for their claws

To hold him close.  He shies from nightmare streams

Of snakes.  A summer night-time insect gnaws

Embedded in his memory.  Spiders crawl

Where sunshine should have been.  The stings

Of poison ivy spikes impose their brawl

Of agony.  He knows too well the wings

Of bee stings threatened everywhere, down in

His genitals if suicidal bee

Finds ways to reach his cockhead.  There’s no sin

As great as that vulnerability.

  A brother might create (but just for fun)

    Some chlorine gas, his throat and lungs to stun.

Phillip Whidden