If I were a ladybug
I would marry you
in your constant opening to air;
my 12 footprints
tracking pollen across our moss bed,
these antenna two quills
shaped simply
to scribe your sweet
with nectar ink.
I would love you
across kingdoms
and shout a vow too large
for one small voice;
A promise of passion
that can only be collective
and rooted, the way seeds
and hemolymph speak it.
I will lay eggs
under your leaves
and our children
will speak of this promise
blooming.
***I do not write response poems, but tonight I had to. Thanks to Eulonia for triggering this, and Leo for the first line of this poem (in the comments).
Susan Daniels Poetry 
This is lovely,Susan. Don’t you love the gifts that Eulonia leaves us; too infrequently, I might add. They are unique and precious. Leo
Thanks, Leo, and also thank you for your comment on her site–I had to write this after I read it! Sigh. Her work is so wildly beautiful. The fact that she shares some with us is wonderful…I would want to read her daily, if I could.
Susan, really a wonderful poem. Great Read.>KB
THanks, KB. Had to do it–Eulonia is such a wild visionary, sometimes she inspires me.
This might sound a bit off, but this kind of feels like Revenge of the Grouchy Ladybug. I would imagine a good swat by a whale’s tail can engender lust even in insects, a theory that I would love to test.
Wow, would love to see teh data on that 😉
I really recommend you go to the site I linked to read the poem that inspired this. I think you’d love her work.
I will, thanks for the tip.
Stirs up memories…
That’s an awesome book!
What a sweet, inspired love poem. It make me want to fly away home.
Thank you. The original poem is much, much better 😉
They were both lovely. 🙂
This is a beautifully written poem. I enjoyed the imagery and love writing that incorporates the smallest things, recognizing how important the life of a bug is. I felt like sharing it with my lover right away. Very romantic. Thank you.
Thank you, Brandy. So glad you liked this!
Would I be off if my impression was sentimental ? You resonated with Lydia Davies~ I’m certain you know her. BEAUTIFUL Susan !
Thanks, Den…you have made me blush.
Wonderful, Susan.
Thanks, Georgia.
i love you. now we have eggs.
E, I just had to do it. Pretty please shelter those eggs over the winter for me.
The perfect love poem to a great start of a Monday.
This poetic feel says it all with a punch to the moon. 🙂
Thanks, Charlie. I like the idea of punching the moon 😉
Punching the moon may result in bruises but that’s okay. We can bring some ice for the soreness to go away. 🙂
P.S I have a new poem up. Check it out. It will raise some eye brows for a lot of people. 🙂
sweet, sticky ladybug love… building to a marvelous final stanza.
Aw, thanks, Jane. You really, really need to check out her poem. It is ecstatic.
Every line, so spectacular!! I love the twelve footprints.
Thank you, Shrinks. If you want to see an amazing poem, follow that link. She is a goddess.
awesome response poem, Susan!
Thanks, Stacy–had to do it.