Losing words for richer speeches

‘Cause they appeal to many leeches

But is that what leeches like to do?

Give speeches and listen to the next in queue?

Leeches have other pastimes:

Reading books and writing rhymes,

Singing lovely valentines.

“This is my valentine for you

I wrote it just to make us two

So will you be my something new?

To play alone would make men sad.”

I imagine that’s what leech poetry is

Losing words for simple preaches

And all that we think it teaches.

On countless beaches, laying in number

The thousand leeches always slumber.

Leeches can cry too

From small paper cuts

Which irritate like what else they do

And fester so soft and black in hue.

But their heart, which is there,

Will ache at the sight

Of a childhood friend

Who is taking their flight

Away and all gone.

Leaving this poor little leech alone

To write speeches which make him feel better

Because that’s what leeches like to do.

This piece also appears in our February 2022 print edition.