In A Worry Poem by Callisse J. DeTerre

(*dedicated to Ursula K. LeGuin*)

If you squeeze me long enough here,
it'll go squirming its way back in
like the worms today
I found under the sun
digging in the mud
cooled and still moist in
the shade of branches
asking why and whirling
and twirling and writhing
rhythmically and going in a worry
to China, where else?
Like that, just squeeze me
here and I will be shriveling