Saturday, 1 November 2025

Poetry 2025 Longlist, Rachana Gujjula

 Parasite


A little snake in sheep's skin,

Whispered concern hissing

Despite seeing this lamb slither

I put my soul in it

Seeing the serpent's wishes grow 

I stood there watching the fleece turn to a poisonous glow


Exploited for my efforts

Quelled in silence with my own words

Leeching yet beguile, with no end

That bloodsucking serpent

With a grin on its face


Still with hope of being wrong

I confronted this sheep-snake

Just to hear it bleat carelessly, 

"You are just overthinking".


Till I realised I was ensnared

Such a fate stirring with agony


Where did it come from?

Did it walk out of the flutter of those pages

What was this Lovecraftian place?

Left in dark with not a sliver of light

With such a vile and cruel parasite!

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