La Cucaracha

Based on a true story

La cucaracha on the table,
Ambling aimlessly about,
Ever agile, ever stable,
Like a creepy-crawly scout.
 
La cucaracha on the table,
Craving crumbs on which to dine,
Treads through papers, past a label,
Finds but water and some wine.
 
A hand comes swooping through the table,
Hurling it onto the floor.
La cucaracha then proves able
To be on the prowl once more.

 

La cucaracha on the table
Can’t be made to disappear!
And a voice cites a Chinese fable:
No food thus is poisoned here!

-EDP

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

For the sake of the humans, I'm sure glad la cucaracha got swatted before it danced on the mashed potatoes! Having lived in a roach infested house when I was young, I hate those things with a passion. (More than houseflies) This is a cute and well-written poem about that creepy little insect.

[emipoemi]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.

[Terra]

I had a good laugh at the end there. What a great story.

[emipoemi]

And it's a true one too. We had a great laugh while it was happening. I knew I had to write the poem once I got home. Glad you enjoyed it

[barleygirl]

Thank you for teaching me something new about something I've been familiar with all my life. I knew this song, but I didn't know it was about a cockroach (had to google). Your poem is such a surprise becuz your story seems to be told with a bit of affection for the old bug! I admire your creativity in coming up with this idea! *wink! wink!* Fondly, Margie

[emipoemi]

lol - yeah. And the more interesting part is that it's based on a true story. I was at a poetry event, and during the open mic, a cockroach was creeping about the table, and we were just watching it, giggling to ourselves as silently as possible. It was definitely a poem in the making. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading.

[barleygirl]

These are the very aspects of everyday life that I think make the best poems! *smile*

[H L Rose]

I hate cucarachas. THEY DON'T DIE!

I've always wondered about that Chinese fable part. I've googled it but a bunch of gross stories about cockroaches in China comes up and I just can't bring myself to sift through them.

I've also wondered if the voice was the voice connected to the hand that swooped the cockroach or if it is there as a dramatic voice over effect.

The poem's an amusing read, though it gives me the jitters and antsy feeling I get when seeing a cockroach. I almost skipped it the first time I went through your book cause I hate them so much. I guess that's the point though. I like the dramatic feel cause that situation would for sure be dramatic.

[emipoemi]

This is actually based on a true story, where a lone cockroach was skittering about our table at a poetry event I frequent. My companion swooped it away, but a little bit later it was crawling back on the table, and he quoted the line. But after that incident, La Cucaracha was playing in my head, and it was begging for a parody. So glad you enjoyed it (despite your aversion to the creepy-crawly). Thanks for reading.

[H L Rose]

Oh yea it's a song! That's fantastic. Parody's seem to be a strong suit of yours.
Thanks for the insight!

[emipoemi]

I like to have a bit of fun every now and then xp