Before I am Famous

literature is something we infer after the story is told

Dale’s Tale

Posted on | July 20, 2008 | 1 Comment

In the hot dusty Savannah
begins our tale
not of a termite named Susanna
but a termite called Dale.

A worker, he was born to be
to forage and create in soil
when passed minutes of three
Dale learned to toil.

In the beginning, he rested.
On the way to his hole
his heart crested
and she smiled, and his heart she stole.

Beautiful and white
wings perfect and small
not ready to fight
for a mate to enthrall

Beside him stood Danda
“Who’s that?” Dale queried.
“She’s the new queen Amanda
but you are a worker and to her you’ll never be married.”

Not yet, Dale thought
“I shall have her,” he declared.
“with my dutifulness she will be caught
my love’s ensnared.”

Dale laid in his space
and conjured a plan
in honor of his love’s face
to deem him her man.

Up before dawn,
he scurried to the top of the colony
pushing termites aside even Shawn.
he will be noticed of her, amongst the cacophony.

Escaping from doldrums
a new found purpose
he wanted more than crumbs
he desired enrage with each bite of cellulose.
By night the stars came upon him
never did he see so much sparkle.
He stopped on a whim
and even smaller did he feel un the patriarchal

Beside him a worker stared
not as beautiful as the queen
but pleasant and cared
to ask his name. Her’s was Nasheen.

They worked side by side
sharing simpleton chit chat
when the sun rose she tried
for him to rest, he claimed he wanted to be fat.

Days and nights crescendo liked waves
Dale looked forward to night
when Nasheen gives him the news, that saves
him time. Nasheen knew Amanda wouldn’t give a crow about Dale, a little mite.

His body strong
muscle rippled under his thorax
she watched him work, sometimes too long.
his desire to be seen gave her the facts.

A love as true and pure
she would honor his heart
but how much can one endure?
Nasheen had to tell him before she fell apart.

“Oh, Dale could you stop?
I have to tell you that I love you.
Amanda will never hop
to you as you are dew.”

He ceased and turned to her,
“What do you mean, I am dew?
my heart is astir
she will notice me, you shall give her a clue.”

“That this is her colony to the sky
where nothing can come of harm
where she’ll never cry
for this world is her farm.”

“Dale, do you not see?
it’s not you, but your work
take the love from me
don’t be such a jerk.”

Away he turned
and continued his driven duty.
Tears feel from her eyes and burned.
daylight approached and she wished the day wasn’t full of beauty.

Spreading like water
from one termite to another
to Amanda, the old queen’s daughter
that a worker toiled like none other.

“What makes him so special?” She asked.
“Works night and day,” a maid replied.
“yet he is masked
by the title of worker and your name he cried.”

She continued, “a sky tower
the biggest colony ever
to make man cower.”
Amanda amazed, “he should be awarded for his endeavor.”

Again the news rippled.
Nasheen shared in the revelry
she hoped dale to be crippled
by Amanda so she and Dale would marry.

With Amanda ascending to the top,
Dale smiled and finished up
for one night he could stop
rest and relax and with Nasheen he would sup.

Before the sun rays
splattered across the creations,
Dale raced to the top, his nerves in frays
he didn’t for see complications.

Nasheen stood by his side
the music played
upon seeing her, he almost dropped to his knees and cried.
before her, he felt filleted.

She rose to the peak,
the bold sun illuminating.
Suddenly a shriek,
something was advancing.

A snout full of hair
Amanda felt the hot breath,
the termites ran in a scare
it could be the princess’s death.

The pressure was much too great
she held on and called,
“Dale please don’t let this be my fate.
my love is yours forever it will be scrawled.”

The princess’s legs quivered
losing a hold on her life
Dale was bewildered.
She asked him again to save her life.

Amanda reached her hand
Dale thought, he knew she only thought of him as a worker
He had to make a stand.
He looked to his coworker.

He ran
with the rest of them,
leaving Amanda with a snout of tan.
Dale had found his gem!

Now ends our tale
dying and living
that’s what our friend Dale
taught us about our best always giving.

Special thanks to Dale at Go Green Go Camping for help with this story!!

Category: weekly shorts

Comments

One Response to “Dale’s Tale”

  1. Blog Carnivals | Mixed Metaphor.net
    August 11th, 2008 @ 2:03 am

    [...] Jennifer M. Scott – Dale’s Tale [...]

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