Worm on a Dirt-road

Yesterday

I saw a long earth-worm

crossing over the dry dirt road

that I was cycling along

he was three quarters over, half dead

and fully covered in dust

So...I turned around and dropped the bike

and I took him

“Hey chap, long way to go still

lots of hungry birds in the sky”

and put him back into the soft shady grass

onto the moist dark soil

where he must have emerged from

Now...if you find this sweet or pathetic

ridiculous, compassionate or whatever

I do not care as:

I will never ever do it again!

How much courage and devotion

must this worm have gathered

to expose himself to sun and predator

and try to cross that desert stretch

and though half dead and covered in dust

already three quarters he had made

when I came along, pretentiously

and threw him back from where he

finally finally had found the strength to leave

I will never ever do it again

neither with him, neither with you

I will either wish him by heart good fortune

try to protect his space for completion

or accompany him

patiently but determined

to this other side