The Kudzus

The Kudzus
by L. Stewart Marsden

Molly Gheen
hadn’t seen
a more marvelous sight than the Kudzus.

At age ten
did befriend
these beings all others did eschew.

Where’re you from?
she asked one
that resembled a giant elephant.

“From afar –
a lone star
that burns in the distance most brilliant.

“We came here
to be near
a civilization magnanimous,

“Where we could,
if we would,
grow quickly and very luxurious.”

Said Molly
“Well, golly,
You’re abundantly well, that’s apparent.

“You should know
as you grow
there are some who believe you are errants.”

“I speak true
and tell you
that our mission is peaceful and harmless.”

“I am sure
they are pure
but, again, there are those who still doubt it.

“They believe
you deceive
and have come here in fact but to rout us.

“My advice
so concise
is you tone everything down, and move slow

“So we here
will not fear
your designs are harm, and then you won’t go.”

“Go? Go where?
We are here
to stay and to flourish as friends, not foes –

“But your words
I have heard
and we’ll slow to a crawl so no one knows

“or suspects
and detects
our plan is but to live and thrive and grow.”

Molly Gheen
watched the green
and viney Kudzus grow prolifically;

And she bore
all the more
their secret intents so specifically;

Till the day
they held sway
and rose up to defeat all the natives

Wrapt around
and then bound
every being on earth as their captives.

Even Molly.

Day Fourteen of The National Poetry Month challenge to write a poem a day.