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Are silkworms peculiarly thick?

They move with impenetrable slowness 

Eat nothing but mulberry leaves

And then get boiled alive.

So that 0.1% can wear their silk.

In the Hayward Gallery one whole room

Is full of rocks and chains

Carefully covered in live cocoons

Close by, trays of silkworms munch

Their way through piles of leaves

Never thinking to aim towards the edge

Jump over and deny us what they spin.

Have we bred them into indolence

Or did we first avail ourselves

Because they were so lazy?

Brian Hick October 2012

©copyright Sally Hick 8.10.24