Poem On Your Blog Weekend - Saturday

Today, a celebrated poet, Yusef Komunyakaa.

Ode To The Maggot

Brother of the blowfly
And godhead, you work magic
Over battlefields,
In slabs of bad pork

And flophouses. Yes, you
Go to the root of all things.
You are sound & mathematical.
Jesus, Christ, you're merciless

With the truth. Ontological & lustrous,
You cast spells on beggars & kings
Behind the stone door of Caesar's tomb
Or split trench in a field of ragweed.

No decree or creed can outlaw you
As you take every living thing apart. Little
Master of earth, no one gets to heaven
Without going through you first.

listen to the above

Find other works by Yusef Komunyakaa on Amazon.

Posted by ronn at April 29, 2006 06:40 AM