Teredo

Model of French Warship “Le Soleil Royale”

the worm in the wood

subtle seaborne invader

soft mouth who makes meal

of hard lapstrake in deadrise

of commonwealth destinies

hinders the smooth sail

of maritime conquest

pernicious bold parasite

given to stubborn defiance

unfazed by the theater of

thrones under ukase of kings

here is ample example of

seemingly powerless creatures

the homely and humble

whose instinct is honed

to create with destruction

the only skill left to its

primitive purpose

a thwarting impediment

though it be small

to the brazen advances

of unreserved arrogance

speaking resistance

to undeserved power