Skin

Skin

Mary liked going to school.
She liked her teacher best.
At seven years old she was a wee bit shy;
The object of ridicule for the way she dressed.

Mary was always sleepy.
Noises at home kept her awake.
Her bed was where ever she could lie down;
With no treatment for a persistent headache.

Nocturnals would keep her company,
On those nights she could find some sleep.
Squeeking and crawling in search of food and warmth;
They scratched and crawled and burrowed in deep.

Mary’s teacher liked her.
She watched over her as one of her own.
She never worried about Mary’s headaches;
Until she saw the skin move over her cheekbone.

Mary was examined by the school nurse.
A trip to the hospital was scheduled next.
Consultations and instruments were employed;
Still the medical staff were all perplexed.

X-rays were ordered.
They were taken in to be viewed.
In but a short time after,
All staff were summoned into the room.

Two came out crying.
Several were white and looking sick.
The cause of Mary’s headaches had been found;
Her teacher was beside herself frantic.

The child’s sinus cavities were infested.
Wriggling invaders moved to and fro.
A mother cockroach had found a nesting place;
And her children were running out of room to grow.