Pantoum: Insect Armageddon

This month's set task of our  Weston Poets group at the Lamb Inn, Worle, is to write a poem in a formal style. Pantoum is a repetitive form derived from 15th century Malaysian style. My effort is below. 

I chose the subject because I am speaking about the global insect population decline at the XR Extinction Funeral March in Weston super Mare on 30th March, Town Hall.

Pantoum: Insect Armageddon

Stop! Do not kill the fly

Who wrings his hands,

Wrings his feet!

-          Issa,  C 18th  Japanese Haiku master

No one should bite that hand that feeds

Though it is natural to block a thief

Yet still the thief will have his rightful needs

And they provide that also make us bleed.

Though it is natural to block a thief

It’s not our given right to maim

And they provide that also make us bleed

We should not burn the house to stop a crime.

It’s not our given right to maim

To kill a living world to stop a bite

We should not burn the house to stop a crime

Though they are very small, still they are great.

 To kill a living world to stop a bite

 Yet still the thief will have his rightful needs

Though they are very small, still they are great.

No one should bite that hand that feeds.

© Richard Lawson

Dolberrow

16/3/19