Poetry

Andrea Reiman photo

By

Abigail Rathbone

Matriphages

Consider if you’re planning Motherhood

The Amaurobius. Her dismal plight?

Her kids devour both her flesh and blood–

A truly traumatizing, tragic sight.

Now just because you’re human don’t conclude

That spider’s fate could never be your own,

And though your kids may grow up very rude

They wouldn’t dream of gnawing on your bone!

Yet Matriphages come in other guises;

Regard how you have altered since their birth:

Your brain has surely sunken many sizes

Despite the awful increase in your girth.

Oh Nature plays her game with every genus

While sparing those possessing of a penis!

The Sound Track of Cloud Formation

We hear

The sound track of cloud formation-

Laugh track of the rising sun

The streaming of nature on screens

However second hand –nonetheless

We are still capable of awe,

Even if too dumb

To step outside or

Look out the window.

Abigail Rathbone

Abigail Rathbone has been writing both short fiction and poetry “on and off” for 50+ years. A retired copywriter she now spends much of her time buying and selling old books, some of which she reads.