Tubal Life

Imagination? Science Fiction? Allegory? or is it just my odd sense of humor? This was in response to Versenators Challenge #18

 

Tubal Life

 

Tube worms sway near deep sea geysers

red lipstick plumes float none the wiser

without stomach mouth or eyes

no teeth to grind or criticize

no need to cut or mash their food

it’s done for them – that’s understood

 

A nine foot tube a mile deep

what secret life within your keep?

Do you miss the sky, the solar rays

great traffic jams or donkey brays

old TV shows like Happy Days -

no Fonzie style no bygone days

or none we know of anyway.

 

What history you fail to write

of civilized but endless night

no war or famine to be braved

no starving children to be saved

just monster clams and red-tipped tubes

and tiny one-cells in your brood

 

Are tubes the groove on Saturn’s moon?

Do Titan cousins sway and swoon?

Are tubes the universal form

that rule beneath great desert storms

with feathered crowns or hydra arms

sentients tending aqua farms

beneath galactic solar swarms?

 

And do tubes rule the other side

the seas our souls sail when they die

the river Styxx and Hades lands

angels’ haunts and swirling sands?

Life’s mysterious; life’s outrageous;

life grows where open minds will take us.

 

David P. Eckert

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[Jonathan Standifird]

This is very very fun. It made me smile with its whimsy. Whimsy. La de da! : ) Plus I love deep sea vent ecology and it warms a special deep sea cockle down at the bottom of my heart to hear someone write about it. Whimsy. The references to Titan was great (though I missed poor Europa). Thanks for satisfying some geeky part of my whimsical soul.

Whimsy.

Jonathan

[C. Harter Amos]

I love the fact that you've written such a good poem about tube worms of all things, and wonder if Versanators Challenge #18 wasn't simply a challenge to write a good poem about an unlikely subject. Really good rhythm and rhyme with enough oddness to the subject to make it a serious series of thoughts with a whimsical twist. - Mimi.

[Matthew Marquis]

Analogy of the Cave comes to mid with this piece. How do we miss what has never been been something we've never been exposed to? Does it matter? I also find it interesting that we humanize everything and project the human experience on things as tedious as worms. How can we really understand anything given that we approach something so species centered?

Interesting piece to consider.

[Ron Cole]

Amazing and intellectual poem! Those Tube worms remind me of some corporate executives that I have known!! Intriguing and entertaining poem, David!

[Cari Lynn Vaughn]

This is cool. I love mythology and oceanography and you managed to write about both! Love your imagery and your overall themes. Great job!

[Moonlight]

This was a clever write (I thought.)

I had to smile when I realized where you took my thoughts, (from tube worms to hades and back!)

Not many can claim to have done the same David *LOL*

Moonlight chuckled and appreciated Davids wit here...

[T. L. O'Neal]

I enjoyed the rhythm of the piece and the flow. Interesting subject matter too. All in all a good piece of poetry. T

[MarcZw]

Yes, probably civilization is a bit paradoxical�(to say the least!). Like this poem (I mean: I like this poem); only� �A nine foot tube a mile deep� seems to really break the rhythm.

[Shannon K.]

I like it, but I don't get it. Is it about single one-celled oranisms, or life, or both, or am I totally off. hmm.... Really great job, despit e my uncertainties,
S.k.

[Barry S. Maltese]

what a complex piece about such a simple life form. So many questions that entertain one's curiosity. Cute poem!!