One day a flea was pondering the meaning of his life
And came to the conclusion that he needed a fair wife
To cook and clean and do the wash (but never ever grouse)
And bear him lots of little fleas to run around the house.
So to the cottage (he did ride) of the girl that he liked best
And to her frightened parents did he make his one request:
“Your daughter wed
Then to my bed
To take her maidenhead.”
Her parents stalled the suitor flea to think of a reply
That they could safely give the flea and thus his suit deny.
“I’m sorry,” said the two of them, “but we tell you (to our shame)
That our daughter’s married to a man, John Mitchell is his name.”
“Alas!” cried flea, “Oh woe is me! That fate could be so cruel!”
And ‘fore the father closed the door, cried “We shall have a duel!
Then your daughter wed
And to my bed
To take her maidenhead.”
They fought, until the flea he cried “A sin, this blood to waste!”
And as he sucked, John Mitchell crushed the flea into a paste.
The parents gave a sudden cheer, “A triumph, he has won!
You’ve brought flea’s death, now honor us and be our only son!”
A trip to the temple they did plan (with Mitchell they had no grudge),
But there was an obstacle unforeseen – their daughter refused to budge:
“I will not wed!
Back to my bed!
I’ll keep my maidenhead!”
***
This was the result of another in-class assignment in my Experience of Poetry class. Assignment follows.
Inspiration: "The Flea," by John Donne
Title has to be "The Flea." Three stanzas, each composed of nine lines. The first six lines are rhyming couplets, and the last three lines of the stanza rhyme. You also must use each of the following words at least once: Sin, Shame, Maidenhead, Flea, Little, Deny, Sucked, Blood, Two, Married, Bed, Temple, Parents, Grudge, Cruel, Sudden, Triumph, Honor, Waste, Death.
This is more difficult. Take half an hour if you need it. The last three lines of all the stanzas don't have to rhyme, I just did that cuz I was lazy :)