Though I know they make some people super-squeamish, I’m not too threatened by the Annelid set. The phylum’s main characteristic is that they’re segmented… and they’re either worms, or leeches, or some kind of leech worms. That’s it, nothing to see here. Except… I always wondered about the sort of menacing nature of the proverb dealing with worms.
The worm proverb was first found in John Heywood’s 1546 glossary A Dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in effect of all the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue. And while he did not corner the market on short titles, Heywood nevertheless did warn, “Treade a worme on the tayle, and it must turne agayne.” (Good luck figuring out which end of the worm contains the “tayle” for you to tread on.) Shakespeare borrowed the phrase in Henry VI, in 1592:
Who ‘scapes the lurking serpent’s mortal sting?
Not he that sets his foot upon her back.
The smallest worm will turn being trodden on,
And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.
In medieval England, serpents and worms were sometimes used interchangeably (showing clearly that England didn’t really get snakes)… but the point is that even a mostly eyeless, toothless, legless and essentially harmless creature will still turn and do… something if you step on it. Even the most meek and biddable will not go entirely quietly, as many bullies have discovered…
“Even a worm will turn.” – English Proverb
the turn
no crowd. no spotlight.
the playground an empty stage
where you find your voice:
NO! Leave me alone! Stop! NOW!
… sometimes even mice can R O A R.