The Termite Queen

March 28, 1995

I can still remember watching the termite queen writhing on the ground, laying eggs. It's especially fun spraying it with bug spray and then watching it slow down and eventually stop altogether and lay still. (I'll probably be hearing from the ASPCA for that comment) :-) Some vocabulary: wherefore=why (NOT "WHERE"); quoth=said.

The Termite Queen lay writhing on the ground
She lay egg after egg after egg after egg
Like a miniature computer
Printing page after page after page after page
The Termite Queen laid eggs
"Your Majesty, wherefore dost thou lay so many eggs?" quoth I
The Termite Queen laid more eggs
"Dost thou not realize how many children thou shalt have?"
The Termite Queen laid still more eggs
"Thou art taking an indubitably lofty responsibility."
The Termite Queen laid yet more eggs
"Your Majesty, shall thou not refrain from laying thy eggs?"
The Termite Queen continued to lay eggs
"Your Majesty, thy responsibility shall be too great even for a Queen!"
The Termite Queen laid all the more eggs
The eggs began to hatch
Still, the Termite Queen laid eggs
The carpenters were born, the builders and the tunnel-diggers
Without rest, the Termite Queen laid eggs
A hill was built, her vast chamber dug out
And still, the Termite Queen laid her eggs
To this day, the Termite Queen lays her eggs
She still lays her eggs by the millions
Day after day
Week after week
Month after month
Year after year
The Termite Queen lays her eggs.
In her vast chamber she births new babies
The Termite Queen still lays her eggs.