boys who talk to bugs

inspired by James and the Giant Peach 

alligator tongues, cyborg sharks, 

are all common-place 

for boys who talk to bugs

rhinos in the clouds 

above my peach pit house – 

don't frighten me so much 

as the people on the hill

who don’t like that i smoke 

grasshoppers with centipedes – 

or help earthworms across the street 

where sun rays beat 

down like the robins,

that i’ll one day reach 

at the crowns of trees 

where the spider weaves her thread 

into a Shalottian tapestry – 

never seen by the human eyes 

or passing fly!