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The Christmas Beetle


When Christmas comes the  Christmas heat'll
bring once more the Christmas Beetle
The first inflammatory breeze'll
set him buzzing like a diesel.
Hear him open up his throttle
as he hums above the wattle!
Hear him zoom, and snarl and rattle
Like a fighter plane in battle!
Watch him dive to sink and settle-
Folding up his wings of metal -
Cutting off the engines sound
as quietly as he comes to ground.
Then watch some sparrows, frail and lowly,
Strike him swiftly, rend him wholly.

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Comments

1 - 5 of 5

  • November 24, 2008
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    good

    From guest munchkin (contact)
    it was uery good for me to find this at the age of 11

  • Elisabeth
    December 15, 2007

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    I have one bouncing now,

    It's bouncing to and fro, hitting the walls and going for my screen, for all that I love them and their rich, green beetle coats. This one is nearly two inches long. They have sticky feet and are difficult to remove from clothing and my hair. They have a poor braking system which is as good as their direction finder! I love them anyway and they make Christmas special here in Australia. Leon Gellert wasn't exaggerating, they are just as he describes here.


  • I-Like-Rhymes Moderators member
    October 21, 2007

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    When I saw the title of this poem I expected something about a "beetle drive", an oldfashioned game we used to play at Christmas. Obviously I was wrong but I am not unhappy about that.
    Gellert has written a fine poem about what looks like a fine creature even if it does meet a messy end. He has chosen his words well and the poem fairly rattles along until the change in those last 4 lines which match the change in the poem itself from the lively description of the sound of this marvel into the short sharp death scene. All part of nature but unexpected never-the-less.
    A fine poem from a good writer.


  • rufina caraid Moderators member
    June 18, 2005
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    I don't particularly like Beetles but my first contact with this particular creature was amazing. Never before had I seen such a beautiful insect. Its irridescent colours captivated me and still do. It's name I imagine is derived from the time of year when they are about in their droves, quite the loveliest of insects and beautifully described by Leon Gellert, unfortunately the birds think so too and follow them around for a quick meal. C'est la vie`

    Von

  • JennyLee
    February 22, 2004
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    His manipulation of words to create amusing rhymes is very like Ogden Nash. I don't know why it makes for good humor, but it always tickles my funny bone when people play around with the English language.

    Jenny Lee

  • philophant
    December 24, 2003
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    Looks like something my brother would like! This must have been fun to write, with all the wacky rhymes. Funny that it ends on a sober note...

1 - 5 of 5