I found this long-snouted beetle and put it through some rigorous intelligence tests. To my surprise it had an IQ of 131. However, I was disappointed to discover that it was using this intelligence in the service of bad not good.

It was a weevil genius!

However, I found a very similar beetle that was even worse. You know the kind of thing—overcooking eggs on purpose, liking Meatloaf, confusing toddlers.

So the first one was the lesser of two weevils!

However, the rustling sound (like the sound of a bishop cheating at Scrabble) it had been making suddenly became inaudible. And into the bargain this sticky-out-at-the-front, beetle-based fellow became invisible.

And into the other bargain, on attempting to explain this bizarre turn of events to a flautist’s nephew—I was suddenly struck dumb.

I could hear no weevil, see no weevil, speak no weevil!

Photograph of beetle copyrighted © by Phil Barnett. All rights reserved.

Image and prose poem were posted to Barnett’s Facebook page on
11 July 2024, and appear here with his permission.

Bio: Phil Barnett