The Fly and the Worm
Said the fly to the worm,
“All you do is writhe and squirm.
Is that not intensely boring?
Don’t you long to go exploring?
When you’ve wings, life’s fun and pacey.
When you’ve feet, life’s sweet and tasty.
I’m a jet-setting high-flyer.
It’s a life you must desire.”
Said the worm to the fly,
“Being busy buzzing by
looks exhausting. Not for me!
My routine’s more leisurely:
first some writhing, then some squirming.
I confirm, it’s life-affirming!
I like living where it’s wetter,
so my soggy bog is better.”
Whilst the two went on reproaching,
a young sparrow was approaching,
and she thought, as she observed them,
that she certainly deserved them.
Their debate was thus abated,
and the two evaluated:
Neither better, neither lacking.
Both ideal for springtime snacking!
“All you do is writhe and squirm.
Is that not intensely boring?
Don’t you long to go exploring?
When you’ve wings, life’s fun and pacey.
When you’ve feet, life’s sweet and tasty.
I’m a jet-setting high-flyer.
It’s a life you must desire.”
Said the worm to the fly,
“Being busy buzzing by
looks exhausting. Not for me!
My routine’s more leisurely:
first some writhing, then some squirming.
I confirm, it’s life-affirming!
I like living where it’s wetter,
so my soggy bog is better.”
Whilst the two went on reproaching,
a young sparrow was approaching,
and she thought, as she observed them,
that she certainly deserved them.
Their debate was thus abated,
and the two evaluated:
Neither better, neither lacking.
Both ideal for springtime snacking!
This poem is copyright (©) Claire Schlinkert 2025
About the Writer
Claire Schlinkert
Claire is a British writer, currently living with her family in Belgium. Her poems for children have been published by Tyger Tyger, Northern Gravy, Little Thoughts Press and The Toy, as well as in a number of anthologies. Some of her poems for children were commended or highly commended in the Yorkmix poetry competitions.
