Hank Williams Jr.

Your Chitin Heart

Your chitin heart is hard and cold.
As if in prayer your hands you fold,
You call me "love", but are you true?
Your chitin heart will tell on you.

We mantises must procreate,
But males think twice before they mate.
It's dangerous to bill and coo.
My chitin heart's heard tell of you.

My heart says yes, my head says no.
I worship you, I want you so.
But those you love you also chew.
Your chitin heart will tell on you.

When headless, I would copulate
More strongly, at a faster rate.
You've tried that with a mate or two.
My chitin heart's heard tell of you.

You look at me, and smile your smile.
A sane insect would run a mile.
I've lost my wits - and so I woo.
Your chitin heart will tell on you.

You stand by me upon this stem
And show your legs - all six of them.
I daren't do what I want to do.
My chitin heart's heard tell of you.

The urge is strong, my ardour's high;
It's time to kiss the world goodbye.
I can't resist; my love is true.
Your chitin heart will tell on you.

Ah, ecstasy! I must ignore
The menace of your lovely jaw.
Post-coitally, you'll feel so blue.
Your chitin heart will tell on you.

I wanted to write something about the mating habits of mantises. The female often finds the experience more rewarding if she literally bites her mate's head off. Like most males, I find this disturbing. Your Chitin Heart was published in my chapbook First Frush (which I think you can order from Amazon if you feel strongly about it). Chitin is the substance from which the exoskeleton of an insect is formed. The poem is not however guaranteed to be anatomically or entomologically accurate in all respects.

The original Your Cheatin' Heart was written by Hank Williams Snr (1923-53), a country singer and songwriter who is also responsible for Your Cold Cold Heart, Lovesick Blues, Jambalaya (On the Bayou) and Hey, Good Lookin' , among many others. He is liable to be confused by ignorant Limeys with his son Hank Williams Jr, or even his grandson Hank Williams III.

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© Bob Newman 2007. All rights reserved.

This page last updated 03/04/2007