POEM: It’s a hard knock life for a bug

June 3, 2026

By Linda Swift

Poor Bug

Oh, I’m so glad

I’m not a bug,

For no one gives

A bug

A hug,

And no one has

A friendly word,

Not for a bug,

Not that I’ve heard

Berated as annoying pests,

They’re never

Our invited guests

We swat at them,

Say “go away and don’t

come back another day!”

We spray them,

Hit them,

Squash them flat.

“Bzz, bzz,”

Hey ouch!

You bit me!

SPLAT!


—Linda Swift was a poet and lifelong resident of Bucksport. She passed away on March 1, 2026, and her family is sharing her poems in her honor.


The Rising Tide welcomes poems and other artistic endeavors from our community, and showcases them here in our “Create” section. If you have something you’d like to submit—a poem, a picture of a painting, a photograph, a music recording—send it to info@risingtide.media. We’d love to publish it and give you an audience for your creativity.

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POEM: Chasing a chicken with ‘a mind of her own’