Nightime Feast

Brush, brush,
Swirl, swirl,
Slip, slide,
Curl, curl.

Beneath me

An apple so bright

Partially covered

In spots of white

White patches are rough

But the red is smooth

The perfect surface

For me to move

The colour so red

Looks sour and sweet

No matter the taste

I stop to eat

I lift my eyes and spot

A creature ahead

Shamelessly devouring 

This nature’s bread

Cutting off bits

And shovelling it in

To his mouth which is now

Adorned with a grin

‘This bread’ he says,

‘Is a jewel in the woods’

Each one of his legs

Sprinkled with mud.

‘The walkers, they pass.

They don’t have a clue.

The beauty beneath,

If only they knew’

‘How lucky we are

That we can taste

And make sure this fruit

Does not go to waste’

I look at his fangs

And each one of his legs

Then I turn down my face

To devour the red.

The underside I notice

Is pleated so neat

Looks white and crisp

Delicious to eat

And from those pleats

Falls dustings of snow

And each crystal lands

On the earth below 

The creature and I

Chew on and on

Until it’s been eaten

And all has gone.

The red and white gem

No longer in show

The walkers that pass

Will now never know

So creature departs

Down to his bed

But I’m still awake

Still hungry for bread

I continue along

The dark forest floor

Peering high and low

But not far I explore

When in front of my eyes

I suddenly see

Another red gem

Ready for me to eat.

I climb the stalk

And skirt the pleats

Finding the perfect

Part to eat.

Brush, brush,

Swirl, swirl,

Slip, slide,

Curl, curl.

Beneath me 

A mushroom so bright

Which this slug

Will devour tonight.