Toxoplasma Gondii

Rotten,

wretched,

spite-filled

parasite. Have you

no shame? Lounging

in the hippocampus, feasting

on grey matter, growing fat while

I decay. Spewing toxins

into blood, you putrify

the body we share.

Little worm,

constantly consuming,

critiquing, cultivating your cacodoxy;

our confluence was years ago, an irreversible

bonding of polarized ions. But dear I fear

you’ve gotten lazy with age,

and I know something

you wish I didn’t.

You need me

alive and well

to walk and talk and act

in this world you so despise.

I wish it could be any other way

but you’re nothing without

me, and I’m not sure

I could live

without

you.