Tuesday, April 10, 2012

NaPoWriMo #10: in which a house roach flew...

***

Change

A flying roach flew
in, by way of window,
on mercy of wind;

it fell on the floor
and scampered
under our table.

My cousin who talked of
how she found meaning
in the Dhammapada,

turned into Medusa
hissing and furious,

gripping white-knuckled
a rolled up newspaper;

bent on KILL!ing, she
found it under the sofa.




***


When a house roach flies, it's going to rain. I don't like roaches but I rather chase them out the house than squash them. Not because I'm kind, but I hate the mess they make.  But when one starts to fly, I really want to kill it immediately, by any means possible.


Also posted at Open Link Night #39 on dVerse Poet's Pub. Post and share your poems, and choose from a massive list to read. Great stuff. Cheers to you all!

24 comments:

Susie Clevenger said...

I too would be bent on killing...love how you took the everyday and turned it into art..love this

Cressida de Nova said...

LOL. Love the immediate transformation from the peaceful hindu philosophy to the killing machine.

Sign me in to the roach killer club:)

ayala said...

I agree with Susie..you turned the mundane into art.

Ravenblack said...

Susie, Cressida, ayala, thanks for coming by and reading. :) Appreciated your comments as well.

Anonymous said...

Another hearty laugh from you, great irony. I especially enjoyed your emphasis on KILL!ing. Honestly I never kill bugs in the house, I always relocate them. Other people always think it's strange but I say my house, my rules :). Also, I agree, you make art with your poetry or poetry from the art of living.

Daydreamertoo said...

LOL I never forget first moving to Canada and insisting that I would not kill a mosquito because it had never done me any harm and was told wait til they get you, then you'll understand. LOL
Being allergic to mosquito's and more so to the noseeum black flies. I sure do understand now. Now, I get them before they get me!! LOL
Thanks for the giggle.

Mary B. Mansfield said...

Wow, I'd also be chasing it with a paper, nasty little bugs indeed!

Unknown said...

This is very cool Raven. Love the contrasting actions/religious philosophy here. Very cool. Thanks

Timoteo said...

So tough not to give in to our natural instincts, spurred on by fear of that which appears alien to us....but consider for a moment the radical idea that all life is sacred.

Jannie Funster said...

Luckily our younger cat takes care of any roaches. even leaves them by my bedside sometimes, as a prize for me -- how sweet of her. :)

xoox

Brian Miller said...

ha our beliefs are truly tested in the moments of greatest challenge...and roaches...smiles.

hedgewitch said...

One of those bit me once UGH!!! I too would be Medusa, or maybe Lizzie Borden. Like the tongue in cheek here, and the way the lines fly down the page(not at ALL like a roach.)

Anonymous said...

I didn't know they were a sign of impending rain; I'll wish for a few to fly my way, then. :)

Shawna
rosemarymint.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

i'm glad flying roaches don't usually turn into medusa. there would be a lot of stone statues around.

messy little girl

Claudia said...

we don't have them much over here...but when i was in sydney they came flying as well one evening...and heck yes..gave me shivers and i think it's always funny how much gets visible of what is truly inside us in such moments

Ravenblack said...

Thanks for your comments, everyone, I enjoyed reading your responses and experiences. I'm glad that you guys had a laugh. It was inspired by an aunt who said how she couldn't kill anything, except for roaches, which simply must die.

@Anna: I would throw a roach into a bin if I could. Once they get crazy, they are quite impossible. If they get into some dark corner or space, you might get a dozen more of them later...

@Daydreamer: mozzies are worse than roaches, in that some of them could be carriers of serious disease, but they are seemingly a little less hated. :D

@Jannie: I know some people keep cats for the purpose of keeping such pests away. It could be left for you, or it could be she wants a reward for her achievement. :)

Semaphore said...

Been there, done that! Turned from Shiva the Creator to the Destroyer in one fell swoop!

Anonymous said...

Great form and flow...this is lyrical and about such a simple subject that you turn into a visdual treat in the way you describe the cockroach and teh medusa- its funny the tings that 'bug' us (no pun intened!) sometimes its the smallest things!

Anonymous said...

sorry for APPALLING spelling- my fingers are too fat

Anonymous said...

Ha. This is very funny. I am a long-time yogi and vegetarian, but have, on occasion, taken certain matters into my own hands. K.

Ravenblack said...

Poemsofhateandhope: It's ok. Are you typing it on a phone? :D I appreciate your visit and response. Thank you.

K: :D Thanks for dropping in.

Anonymous said...

Really enjoyed reading this.

I myself love animals of the more than four legs category, and do find it slightly hilarious when people who love animals suddenly react that much differently when the cuteness is gone.

Nice capture here. Very well done.

Ravenblack said...

Semaphore and Skyraft, thank you. :)

Anonymous said...

I had this discussion with my offspring. We love all living things, but its o.k. to kill ants, wasps (not honey bees) and rats. Mice are cute but not when inside our house. We are so conditionally Zen!