The Lemming
If I could, I would
get rid of ALL the myths,
the urban legends,
and the rumors.
Like the one about me falling
from the sky.
No mother, no father needed.
Born from wind and rain.
Or the idea of me lost
and looking for my homeland,
sunken and forgotten
below the ocean waves.
Or the story of me running
in giant groups of hundreds
(maybe thousands)
and jumping for my afterlife—
together with my friends.
They say I blindly follow,
with zero brilliant thoughts.
They say I’ve little value.
That I can be replaced.
My name and honor—damaged
because of made-up memories
of things that never happened,
because of careless theories
told often and told loud.
If I could, I would
demand a big “I’m sorry”
since I’m not THAT at all.
Like my cousins on the food chain,
I’m round, and fat, and fierce.
Have families by the dozens.
Have thoughts that are my own.
Like the one about why myths,
urban legends, rumors,
and made-up theories push,
force us underground
because false fear—must feel
a little sense of freedom.
But, it’s strange—you see…
I’m small and cute and soft and know
that little sense of freedom
won’t be long or true.
get rid of ALL the myths,
the urban legends,
and the rumors.
Like the one about me falling
from the sky.
No mother, no father needed.
Born from wind and rain.
Or the idea of me lost
and looking for my homeland,
sunken and forgotten
below the ocean waves.
Or the story of me running
in giant groups of hundreds
(maybe thousands)
and jumping for my afterlife—
together with my friends.
They say I blindly follow,
with zero brilliant thoughts.
They say I’ve little value.
That I can be replaced.
My name and honor—damaged
because of made-up memories
of things that never happened,
because of careless theories
told often and told loud.
If I could, I would
demand a big “I’m sorry”
since I’m not THAT at all.
Like my cousins on the food chain,
I’m round, and fat, and fierce.
Have families by the dozens.
Have thoughts that are my own.
Like the one about why myths,
urban legends, rumors,
and made-up theories push,
force us underground
because false fear—must feel
a little sense of freedom.
But, it’s strange—you see…
I’m small and cute and soft and know
that little sense of freedom
won’t be long or true.
FACT:
Throughout history, humankind has created myths about the lemming. In the 1500’s people believed that this animal fell out of the sky during stormy weather. Then later it was proposed that lemmings would go looking for their lost colonies under the ocean. The most persistent falsehood is that they run in groups, jump off cliffs, to die. Lemmings are related to mice, rats, hamsters and gerbils. Every few years their numbers grow so large that groups break away and migrate. Sometimes they misjudge their ability to swim. Lemmings are brilliant tunnel makers, architects and urban planners.
This poem is copyright (©) Diane Lee Sammet 2025

About the Writer
Diane Lee Sammet
Diane Lee Sammet was a finalist in the Royal Palm Literary Awards (2024), and she has been accepted for the 2025 Big Sur Children’s Writing Workshop. Diane was the first-place winner of the Writers Helping Writers Fight Club Story contest (2022) and has been published in Academy of the Heart and Mind, AppleSeeds Magazine, Loch Raven Review, Perceptions Magazine, and The Phoenix. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, she holds two master’s degrees from Columbia University and the University of Hartford. You can learn more at dianeleesammet.com.