House of Ants

Living walls composed of tiny living building blocks
Pinchers, claws, legs, holding on, gripping, intertwined
Compelled to embrace each other in this crawly house
Scratching on hardened shells, always adjusting, tightening
Ever responding to the constant hum deep within
Awaiting the call to aid the foraging column

The mighty stomach growls and workers spill out in raids
Blinded by design, they have no choice but to follow
the trail laid down before them, to stray is to be exposed
They ravage the frontier, surpassing all by shear numbers
Dragging back strange trophies for the greater good of all
Though Mother Nature's own, they leave her environment sterile

And the sovereign soldiers lean to the sky, expectant
Guarding the queen's highway of dutiful progress
So monstrous their jaws that the workers must feed them
But wary are the workers for they know their guardians
Blind unbiased vises that will seize friend or foe
Once triggered, they slam shut never to release their prey

And deep within toils the creative bureaucrat
Or so think the loyal workers who greet their new brothers
She pestles their trophies into ever more mouths to feed
Her eyes on the future, but blind to the present
Commanding the make-up of her workers, but not their minds
She perpetuates a brood of millions with the love of none


Inspiration:
Discovery Channel TV Special – “Killer Ants”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers song “Essayons”

Proverbs 6:6-8 (KJV)
“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise which having no guide, 
overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the 
harvest.”
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Mason Avatar
December 18, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Outstanding interpretation of a world we only get to imagine through the photographer's lens ... smile ... love Discovery!! Thank you so much for your comment on my writing and if it hasn't already been said, Welcome to PoetrySoup, Beau.
Culverhouse Avatar
December 17, 2009 at 3:47 PM
good write enjoyed reading today! thanks for sharing:)
Shango Avatar
December 17, 2009 at 6:35 AM
The allegory is never a more potent instrument in the artist's hands than it is here ... may your genius continue to inspire.
Brown Avatar
December 16, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Thank you for this excellent poem you shared with us today Beau. Love, Carol
Laic Avatar
December 16, 2009 at 3:58 AM
Interesting and real writing. I liked it. I wish you a happy, wonderful Christmas, full of joy and love! Florentina
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