The Maggot Maiden lifestyle, 05/10/2023 A severed finger poem (Dharrsheena’s ‘True Crime, Horror story & Dark Poetry’ group on Facebook. The day began wonderfully. Warmth and peace cascaded from on high Leisurely, I skipped along the sunlit beach, gathering multi-colored shells Hoping to find buried treasure, or a pirate’s hidden bounty chest Something shiny caught my eye, I paused, bent to have a closer peek I picked it up. Guess what? I dropped it, reeling back in terror For as I watched, the wretched thing pivoted Pointing at me, as if accusing me of something ghastly It was then that I noticed the maggots Intrigued, I stepped closer, still a bit closer Consternation turned to fascination Each maggot attached itself to the other Like knots on a rope, in perfect harmony They interlaced, interweaved and interfaced As if forming a braided, twisted and sinewy limb Rooted to the spot I stood, I could not move One by one the maggots wove, faster, faster Feet, legs, thighs, hips, private parts, stomach It started to smell, I gagged Arms appeared, breasts, neck, head and maggoty eyes I found motion in my feet, turned to run The arms reached out and grabbed me The maggots crawled into me, unto me I felt the cold spidery disgusting feet invade my all I tried to move, to shake them off, to no avail I was consumed, eaten up in a soup of stink and maggots The sun I no longer felt upon my slithering soul I was now a maiden of puerile maggots and ooze My transformation is now complete, I seem whole again My red lips parted as I walked to the water’s edge My reflection was lovely indeed I was a beauty on the outside But felt hideous on the inside. I crawled and chittered Like the maggots invading me from within A finger fell away with a golden ring attached Another instantly grew back Golden ringed fingers were falling everywhere Soon the world would be filled with those like me Lovely on the outside But rotting and squirming on the inside Beware the beringed severed finger! LIFESTYLE