The worm in winter

The worm has been around
for a long time.
A cloistered tube
harboring a personal menagerie
it knows about rebirth
and the secrets of natural harmony.

Some wrap themselves
in slimy sacks
to prevent drying
or grow bony vaults
to guard against the blows
of bad fortune.

Twitching pylons protrude
on some species
for moving out of harm's way.
In rare cases
a throbbing bulb of electricity
serves to orchestrate the twitches.

In winter this ensemble is observed
squirming into fibrous casings
and ravenously burrowing
through vats of lasagna
and chocolate.