Beelzebug

A mysterious creature indeed.

Upon the sands

of time a scarab beetle

stands stock still,

an armoured

sentinel,

It's dark heart

wrapped in a glossy

shield.

 

There is something

sinister

about this dung rolling

creature

with its scoop-like head

and paddle-shaped antennae,

that makes me see the evil

of the devil in it.

 

Can you see the darkness too?

 

Yet it is worshipped

by all of Egypt,

symbol of the sun

rolling the earth,

the divine manifestation 

of sunrise itself.

 

11/06/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[kentuck14]

Ah . . . Beelzebub . . . my favorite villian!! Never met a dung beetle . . . we don't hang about in the same circles!!! Once found a water beetle in my workplace many years ago . . . no one knew what this creature was . . . big, black and ugly . . . menacing indeed. For all we knew it was Beelzebub in disguise!!
By the way . . . all those ancient gods are explained in the reruns of "Stargate SG1". Uh, John, you got something on your shoe!
T.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

S**t that made me jump! My Beelzebug sure beats that bad old Beelzebub any time! Never watched a full episode of Stargate. Thank you Tom.

[kentuck14]

try it . . . it grows on you like a fungus.
T.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Not mushroom in here for that lol!

[Hayley]

Interesting title. I was honestly expecting something witty and wordplay-intensive, and this was something different. It is interesting how scarabs were a manifestation of Ra, isn't it? I don't necessarily see evil, but I do see creepy-crawly. Then again, the Egyptians also had a crocodile god and whatever animal Set(h) was, so they were no strangers to the slightly eerie.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Hayley for taking time out to read and comment. I think Egyptian folklore and beliefs are interesting like many other cultures. So much to get out teeth into!

[Samuel H. Ludke]

Very interesting poem! Good job!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Cheers Samuel. Good to meet you.

[Samuel H. Ludke]

Check out my poetry sir!

[Edie Blue Starfish]

I think they are pretty, like little jewels. :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

The devil's jewlels! Thanks for reading Edie.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i used to wear a scarab beetle...and it was pretty cool...they look unlike what they are...so revered by some, like a little god...
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks Jacob, so you don't wear it now.

[Chris Shaw]

I saw no evil here John, just a strange little creature with a fascinating splash of bright blue on its back. Pretty it is not, yet it is worshipped in Egypt. I like that it isn't worshipped for its looks. A fine piece of free verse here, beautifully descriptive with some learning thrown in for added measure. Good morning.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Morning Chris. I think devil worship is afoot!
Many thanks for reassuring me lol!

[Chris Shaw]

Your imagination is on overdrive :)