By: Colson Domergue, UA undergraduate

This poem is the final post belonging to our fifth pedagogy series. You can also read student Jasmine Flowers and student Tori Linville‘s pieces from earlier posts or see instructor Jessica Kidd‘s commentary on this creative writing class project.  

From Ellsworth Hult’s diary, MSS.3735

 Mosquito

Our birth occurred in such a cold place,
In the stillness of the naval yards of Philadelphia.
Our mission was to head south – to the source of sustenance.
Winter turned into spring
And we grew steadily stronger –
Nurtured in the warmth of the Gulf of Mexico.
We then found the rest of our swarm.
“Onward” was our buzzing anthem.
We found our precious blood.
The Rebel flag over the fort drew our eyes,
Enticing us to come and take
Her sweet blood from her body.
We became famished over
The past four years. It became time
To dine.
The swarm was buzzing around.
It almost sounded as if
The iron and wood mosquitoes
Were all chanting the name:
“Fort Morgan.”
The scent of blood drew more
Of us to her brick skin.
Their attempts to swat us were
All in vain.
June turned into July,
July into August.
Our swarms’ buzzing
Became a famished symphony and
Grew louder than the cannons.
Feast!
Feast!
Feast!
Feast!
Their sweet nectar was ours.
The white flag appeared.
No more blood.
Our appetites had been fulfilled.
USS Galena slept well.