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A millipede marched through my bathroom

By Maggie Dyson

A millipede marched through my bathroom,

A woodlouse walked under the stairs

A spider squats on the ceiling

They all caught me unawares.

The clothes-moths have chomped through my cardis

The woodworm has weakened the stairs

The dust-mites have dined on my duvets

These creatures all add to my cares.

The hawk-moths feast on my fuchsias

The blackfly bolt my broad beans,

Caterpillars crunch all my cabbage

I know what defoliate means.

The jackdaws all jive in my chimneys

The starlings all think they are theirs,

Those wild wasps are eating the mortar

I’m dreading the bill for repairs.