<center>![Butterfly Larvae.jpg](https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/Qmc4s3AYhicSNrnefF1yrLVQ28VKEUPi13rMSLvu1wK6Y5)
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I feel it, under my skin.
I feel it, eating me alive.
I feel it, do you not see it?
The Larvae of love.

I cannot help but bite into your apple.
You seduce me with your shamelessness.
I bite, and staring back at me
is my halved desire;
The Worm of love.

I go through my days, distracted.
I go through my days clutching my head, a man in grief.
I go through my days, spreading my affliction.
I go through my days, spreading the Lice of love.

This is my life.
Love has taken root and sprouted within me.
Flesh-eating,
mind-bending,
heart-coiling.

All-consuming.

Love spreads,
in light
and in darkness.
Out of sight,
yet always felt.

All-consuming.

Wouldn't you care for a taste of the Worm?
Wouldn't you care to feed the Lice?
Wouldn't you care to host the Larvae—
The Larvae of Love?

<center>![Separator line_smallEST.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaD4y6cS4HeKYy7mT5uNvBG65JL7CkyBhRu1y8qLcGGZk/Separator%20line_smallEST.jpg)</center>

This piece is dedicated to @yahialababidi, to whom I promised there will be a poetry book where this will be the titular poem ;-)
I originally wrote only the first stanza, and then wrote the remaining bits later. Did I perhaps lose my way, or focus on the unimportant stuff? For sure. But it made me smile. I could write another poem going off of the first stanza, and I just might.

My hope is for this poem to bring a smile to your lips.
Of note, this poem is *not* inspired by the person all my other love poetry is inspired by. Even if she has infected me with an all-consuming love that leaves me burning up.

**Check out my latest posts:**
* [Steemitschool Poetry Class - Critique Thursday Class #7 - 03/05/18 - Recording and Notes](https://steemit.com/@geekorner/steemitschool-poetry-class-critique-thursday-class-7-03-05-18-recording-and-notes)
* [Transformation](https://steemit.com/@geekorner/transformation-poetic-prose) - Poetic prose.

<center>[![IOW COLOR LOGO.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYc3Ncto2Q52AeT5TKxTuyoCNtYnY5Ytze7hEU8hiNonj/IOW%20COLOR%20LOGO.png)](https://discord.gg/TPh9dHM)
Art and flair courtesy of @PegasusPhysics</center>

[Image source](https://pixabay.com/en/swallowtail-butterfly-cocoons-larva-329086/).

© Guy Shalev 2018.