Ant's Army

I stand and watch the exodus of ants Through sig sag tracks, they wind their way They march like disciplined soldiers Never deterred by hurdles on their way Are they fleeing from an imminent danger? Or are they on their way to forage their daily bread They move on urgency, no straggler on the way Oh! With what collective energy they tread It seems, these tiny insects lead an active communal life Sometimes thousands of them scuttle on the ground We wonder who summons them to gather as a group Usually they keep in line with the ones going in front White ants build underground condominiums As from castles, their spires tower above the ground They are thus comfortably settled beneath In air conditioned compartments within the mound Black ants occupy every creek and cranny And live in unified colonies without strife They are not fussy about where they stay Any humble shelter is enough for their simple life If by chance one gets hurt or wounded The others generously carry it on their back It is fun to watch them scurry on their tiny legs And observe them move along, forming a neat track Red ants are the miscreants of the whole lot With mandibles like pliers, they pinch n pierce the skin They might even crawl unseen to our beds Leaving us itchy and scratchy making our heads spin If the carcass of a rat or roach is found In no time it is stripped down to the bone If some grain is strewn on their way In seconds each one carries and it is done Unity is their strength, through precept they prove They work together and live in harmony They never rob another of his property Nor like man covet his neighbor’s money! 15. Jan. 2022 Insect’s Poetry Contest Sponsor- Angela Tune