Consider the locust
who, alone, does no harm,
but devastates the earth
when part of a swarm.
They mass and devour
fruit grain and leaf
without thought of the future;
it beggars belief.

Then sated and full
they all die en mass
as ultimate victims
of their voracious repast.

Consider the human being
who, alone, does no harm...

Formerly she’d sneak into my room,
and whisper things that only I could hear.
She‘d provide a fortunate turn of phrase
And I would craft the lyric sweet and clear.

I would praise her for her golden hair,
those sensuous lips, those cerulean eyes.
Yet she would often fool me, even then,
by entering my thoughts in a disguise.

We had such power, then, my muse and I
to infuse a verse with truth and light.
We once were lovers on red satin sheets,
Crying out in mutual delight.

Those were days to treasure then.
Some things we take for granted we should not.
We once made love beneath the bowl of stars.
This I remember, but she seemingly forgot.

These days now I seldom hear her voice.
Her beauty she reveals to others’ eyes.
I think she will no longer sing to me.
Her truths by others’ pens will be inscribed.

I thought to arm myself against seas full of trouble,
but my every effort  was doomed  to fail and caused my woes to double.
Let this be a lesson that I should proceed with caution
Because these days slings and arrows cost an outrageous fortune

His lying lips nuzzled her nape
as his hands caressed each breast.
Although the Law might deem it ' ****"
at seduction, he was best.

She turned and gave her lips to him,
a man whose heart was hollow.
Her schoolgirl skirt dropped to the floor
where, shortly, all would follow.

Each pearl button was undone;
her lovely ******* exposed to view.
soon thereafter, deep inside her,
proclaiming love he knew untrue.

Was it pride of first possession
that brought him to this place?
Surely other men had noticed
this nymphs figure and her face.

To pluck a rose before it blooms
is acting out of season
To take love that you cannot  give
is close akin to treason