Worm

        By Majid Naficy

You are that apple worm which overnight
Grew into a bloodthirsty dragon
Like Haftvad’s worm in the “Ardashir Chronicles”.*
It nested in the minds of people
Drawing them to its cult.

No sorrow if in our time
Another Ardashir does not rise
To pour molten lead in your mouth
And call the people to open your castle
By setting a smoking fire on the roof.

No! This time, Instead of a hero,
The people themselves one by one
Will mail their ballots
To bring you down from your seat
And return you to your swamp.

        October 15, 2020 

* Ardashir I founded the Sasanian Dynasty in Iran in 224 A. D. He slew Haftvad’s worm before crowning himself king of kings.