[Newspoetry] Watch out for the Bubonic Fleas!

[Jay Morris]

Newspoets,

Here's a fear-mongering song in response to the series of articles on the
guy in NY with bubonic plague (see below).  It's a take on the 'man on the
flying trapeze' song.

Some facts from an article I can't find my way back to now:
"Plague occurs in 10 to 20 people in the United States and 1,000 to 3,000
people worldwide each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. About one in seven cases is fatal.  Humans usually contract the
disease from fleas that have fed on infected rodents."

A couple of predictions:
-Stone Phillips special on bubonic plague next week.
-Lots of news stories about bubonic plague set next to stories about Iraq.

jay

********
Watch out for the Bubonic Fleas!

They fly through the air,
with the greatest of ease,
come jumping from rats,
spreading deadly disease.

We've been warned about bombs,
from the crazed Afghanis,
but you'd better watch out now,
for bubonic fleas!

If someone nearby,
just so happens to sneeze,
better put on your mask,
get yer head 'twixt yer knees!

So rinse twice with mouthwash,
scrub yer hands till they bleed,
go to sleep with the light on,
in your pants and long sleeves.

If you feel something bite,
better call up your priest,
cause it's prob'ly Saddam,
and his bubonic fleas.

He's been training them well,
in his camps to the East,
It's a mad little circus,
of terrorist fleas.

If you witness a rat,
better climb up a tree,
cause their itchin' to give you,
their bubonic fleas.

Last year it was planes,
now it's ancient disease,
if the West Nile don't get ya,
there's bubonic fleas!
**********

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/WABC_110602_nycplague.html

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=571&u=/nm/20021107/hl_nm/bu
bonic_plague_dc_1&printer=1

http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=healthnews&StoryID=1696119

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_704941.html

http://www.canada.com/health/story.html?id=%7B58448828-2816-4CA1-92B6-FB3700
974516%7D