hey thanks for the cookiethat was a good one maybe it wasfrom the bakery down the street i reallyappreciate the gesture and soagainst what is no doubt my strongself interest i feel compelledto report that yesterday i met an anton your counter herejust the one guy he was scoutingand he might have left finding not muchas youre so tidy in your kitchen but unfortunatelyhe found a popsicle sticki know it surprised me too but surpriseor no the reality of it is henodded to me and said ahoythats a bad sign as i think you knowthat one ant is harbinger of an army thereofthey will come my friendso i worry because of course this means warand decimation of a platoon of finesoldiers who are just following ordersand the scent of sugaruse caution my human friendlife is in the balance and youcan tip the scales
Inspired by Archy’s voice: Archy & Mehitabel
Give them coffee
ReplyDeleteThe grinds will make them swell up
Cruel but nice.
300 thousand to a nest on average.
Wish I could find their nest.
And yes, sugar...life in the balance, and I crave it so.
Maybe eat the ants once they are sugar-filled?
I wish I hadn't read this
and you wish I had'nt said this.
I love this. Your lack of punctuation. Your fantastic line breaks. The free-flow run-on style. Fantastic!
ReplyDeletethe ants are footing it through the lines here with nothing to stop them! The Popsicle stick! (Someone's in trouble.) My Grandmother gave me two cures which have made my life simpler. (1) a line o borax around the room edges and all ant entrances. (2) the same with PAPRIKA! I have not tried mixing the two. I keep stocked on paprika for ants and also deviled eggs.
ReplyDeleteWith warmer days come ants ~ Thank goodness they are outside of the houses, not inside though ~
ReplyDeleteLove the inspiration too,must read his work again ~
I like the free flowing style, and the way you made it relevant to us all at the end.
ReplyDeleteAnd for those who might like to try a compassionate approach, a very good ant repellent is peppermint--they hate it, and will turn back and head the other way. Peppermint oil is probably the best--mix a few drops of the pure oil with some water in a spray bottle, and spray it under your doors, etc. Makes the house smell nice too!
Hahaha! I love this, Marian (mainly because I think that I am living in an ant's nest - we are just the annoying interlopers in their world).
ReplyDeleteI love the cockroach's tone - so kindly warning, as if he were quite the accepted guest.
PS. No ant friendly repellents for me - bring the rain!!!!
Delete(Friendly repellent? Isn't that an oxymoron?)
Marian, I adore your style. Loved the perspective of a platoon just following orders. And am relieved at Timo's antidote which is a compassionate one.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, Marian. I can imagine archy saying it, and I can imagine the colony of ants under the corner of our house where my husband's office is. I keep telling him about them, but he refuses to do anything. Some day the room will fall down around his ears and he'll wonder why. Being a little bit mean, I just might say, "I told you so."
ReplyDeleteK
This was great! I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeletehilarious. takes talent to write sans punctuation contrary to what many believe. impressed with those who are equally skilled with line breaks in free verse another skill some mistakenly believe is easy. enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteFrom cookies to warfare in the span of a few lines, ants marching and acting on a grand scale. I think archy and Marquis would each approve.
ReplyDelete"... because of course this means war
ReplyDeleteand decimation of a platoon of fine
soldiers who are just following orders
and the scent of sugar"
oof.
Wonderful. I would love to hear this poem read out loud.
ReplyDeletea runaway sentence that takes us right to the heart of compassion... the hard choices we like to pretend are not choices at all.
ReplyDeleteThis ramble contains a lot of wisdom. Ants are so industrious, if inconvenient. Only a squeaky-clean house will keep them at bay. No food = no ants. And no roaches, yeeeach!
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, they love the sweet stuff. Ants and dandelions: Facts of life, and they were probably here before we were, so I cannot use those little poison things. I love them for surviving. Peace, Amy
who knew a poem could inspire insect-repellent advice? ;) xo pals!
ReplyDeleteone ant is harbinger of an army thereof
ReplyDelete:) !!!
!!! (thank you) :)
ReplyDelete