Parasitic wasp laying eggs inside living caterpillar host
600 words
A caterpillar rests upon a twig,
With no intent to conquer earth or sky;
He merely wants to eat until he’s big
Enough to turn into a butterfly —
And on that day, he’ll think of flying high.
No soaring, tragic thoughts he entertains,
No hearty lust for trouble or for war;
He knows these things are never worth the pains
That could be spent on eating more and more —
At least until the time he’s waiting for. (more…)
360 words
English original here
Remerciements à l’original de Rudyard Kipling
Reprenez le fardeau de l’Homme Blanc –
Envoyez au loin les meilleurs d’entre vous,
Vers des pays et des peuples barbares,
Et répandez le credo évangélique :
La sainte écriture de la Liberté
Pour chaque besoin matériel,
La liturgie des Droits de l’Homme,
(more…)
291 words
French translation here
With thanks to Rudyard Kipling’s original
Take up the White Man’s burden —
Send forth the best ye breed
To heathen lands and peoples,
And spread the gospel creed:
The holy writ of Freedom
For each bodily demand,
The Human Rights liturgy,
And the Market’s ghostly hand.