Naegleria Fowleri

[https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/deadly-brain-eating-amoeba-found-in-texas-town-s-water-supply/ar-BB19scwt?ocid=msedgntp] Cases in North Carolina And Florida too!

Don't go drinking water in Brazoria, Texas,

oh and certainly don't swim in lakes and rivers,

for lurking there beneath the surface

is a freshwater loving,

shape shifting, invisible parasite;

an amoeba that gets up your nose

and eats your brain.

 

27/09/20

Author's Note

Reviews

[barleygirl]

I'm sorry I can't appreciate the subject matter covered in this poem. I've heard of some brain-eating amoeba, but these days we are swamped with outlandish conspiracy theories, led by our ignorant divisive bully-in-chief, so I don't have the mental or emotional capacity to glorify or encourage farfetched bullshit like this. There's just too much real deadly covid danger going on to spend a moment thinking about brain-eating amoeba. Our reality is so much worse than this as millions go broke & hundreds of thousands die. Maybe if this poem was exaggerated to the point of hilarity, I might then be more inclined to laugh (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I was simply fascinated when I read about this in our press. Seemingly it rarely affects people. Thanks Margie.

[YouoweYoupay]

I like the play of words here. Because at first I had the image of a mermaid or a water nymph when you began describing the organism. I'm oblivious to the latest news, of course because I hate watching the news. But I like your poem and your artsy vocabulary.
Thanks for sharing.
~Aysha.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Aysha. Indeed a true tale.

[Anastasia]

I have read this news yesterday too and it is so shocking to me. There is no end to the scourge that are hitting the world one after another. Where can we run if death is chasing us from all directions. What an agonizing death it will be if the brain is being eaten up. Only Allah and His mercies can save us. I am prayerful and will take shelter in Him. Thank you for sharing this poetry.
Please also read my new poetry on Allah's bountiful blessings and that is inspired by my fellow sister Zaynab here. God will bless you so much.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Sabrina thanks for your comment. The news likes to sensationalise everything. This parasite is very, very rare and the chances of contracting it miniscule. There are many viruses and parasites in the world that only end up affecting a few unlucky souls.

[Fairy Khan]

This is so scary. Even drinking water isn't safe, now. What are we doing to the Earth!?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

This is extremely rare FKK. The news likes to sensationalise. Many thanks for stopping by.

[Ladysue]

I read about this today and hardly could believe it. I have known about the lakes and that was bad enough but now in drinking water. It’s scary.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Very, very rare though Ladysue. There are many more viruses and parasites around but they rarely cause illness or death. Many thanks.

[Kari Rakitan]

Aw, this sucks! I'm thinking of the many summers I spent as a kid swimming in Lake Texoma. They always gave us ear drops after swimming, but never anything for the nose. Also, we had a song that included something about cheetah getting eaten by amoeba. I always thought it was just a silly nonsense rhyme, but it suddenly makes sense now.

I can only hope that all my friends in the area stay safe!

Thanks for the music too!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Very rare this beast. Thanks for reading. I looked after the lead singer and lyricist of Hawkwind at one time, Robert Calvert, he dressed and looked like a stockbroker and was bald!

[Chris Shaw]

I read about this online. I have to say it really freaked me out. Makes covid into a better option. Well conveyed and scary with it.

Chris

[Kari Rakitan]

Covid still isn't a better option. Survivors have seen all sorts of long-term side effects including brain damage.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02599-5

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah this is very, very rare, scary but rare. Covid has already caused 10,000 excess deaths her in the UK unrelated to corona virus and untold long term mental health and social problems. Thanks for reading and commenting Chis and Kari