Stinger

Underneath the earth

Waiting there

Trigger point

Hidden lair

Land mine

Where their men may stride

Hymenoptera

On the route

Relocate

Schooled to boot

In line

Wash away their pride

In the jungle heat

Shed the ruse

Animate

Light the fuse

Then fly

Fly and terrorize

Add it to the list

Work deduced

Mitigate

Spread the use

In time

Win and claim the prize

Reviews

[emmajoy]

Read three times, and each time the word 'land * mine' has thrown itselfoforward , Checked the word, Hymenoptera.. and still consider those two * words are the core. Don't know how a land mine is made but sure its contents would do a darned side worse that an exploded lair of those other devils.

There again, dangerous little critters can have two legs too.. do as much harm.. and more, if one thinks about, ' Relocate - Schooled to boot = In line '

[Lorry]

This is a bit spooky biscuits for me, as right before logging in I started watching season four of the expanse, which has razor sharp swarms of flying insects in it.
And they do say the truth is stranger than fiction, so perhaps we'll see them soon protecting Amazon delivery drones from banditos 😀
Love that it feels sci-fi, but is factual.

[Inessa]

Weaponised wasps and hornets?? You would have to fill me in on that one. I have always been fascinated by the Vietnam War, so your idea comes as interesting news to me. I like the brisk flow of this poem.

[Paul Shannon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg9GZPRjL4o
There is a bit about it around 9 minutes 56 seconds in this video if you're interested :) thank you!

[Inessa]

Wow. Just viewed the section. Never heard of that before. Thanks for the link.

[barleygirl]

While your poem feels almost too abstract for me to grasp, I get the idea there's a literal meaning, such as some stinging insects reproducing in a dirt nest so they can fly & terrorize . . . but I'm also getting another symbolic meaning, such as those people with stingers that stay underground (i.e. they never meet you on common ground about things you might be able to agree upon) & then the minute they see something about you that they disagree with, they attack. I can relate to that! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Paul Shannon]

Thank you for your kind words. After a failed attempt at trying to experiment with diction, the poem ended up simply about the use of weaponized wasps and hornets in the Vietnam War.

[barleygirl]

I never heard of weaponizing wasps & hornets, but there are some badass muthas around here that terrorize my garden each summer!