what shall ye be
old man, dying man?

a dog perhaps, driven
by passion, guarding
the house of master
or maiden

a tree perhaps, stolid
by a river, rooting shooting
flowering and fruiting

a snake old man
slithering and hissing
and tempting the ******

a louse dying man
itching and *******
raising curses all around

what shall ye be
a pebble in a stream
methinks, grinding
sand in the clear
cool water