Never Say Die

Watching a movie ('Walking Tall')
I spied a cockroach on my wall,
crawling in and out of sight,
the proud homeowner's sorry plight.
Now I see him, now I don't,
a creepy feeling, and I won't
feel better till he's dead and gone,
considering it a job well done.

The kitchen was my battleground,
I chased the bugger round and round,
('persistent' was the name I christened
my thick-skinned antagonist,)
for dodging footfalls he'd survived
the era of the dinosaurs,
avoiding conflict he'd outlived
the perils of unnumbered wars.

Tired and soaked with perspiration,
craving his elimination,
I, with magazine extended
dealt a blow, his life was ended.
Or was it? Wriggling in his death throes,
wiggling several sets of black toes,
on his back he scarce could right
himself to carry on the fight.

Yet more he fiddled, then was still,
an adversary with a will,
he lay quiescent on the rug,
that bold defiant little bug.
I left him shaken, (his demise 
beyond salvation?), then my eyes
beheld no insect, just a stain,
for he'd crept off to scare again!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2006

Poem

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A   Avatar
March 3, 2013 at 9:02 AM
Keith, many blessings on your featured poem this passed week. Have yourself a new and awesome week.:-) Always & Forever * LINDA
Austin Avatar
February 26, 2013 at 10:05 AM
As a teenager I lived in my sister's basement. There were water bugs. If you hit one just right with a hammer it would shatter into several parts. No mess just parts. Your poem brought the slaughter back. Many thanks. Congrats on the selection. Love, daver
Jones Avatar
February 24, 2013 at 5:50 PM
What a wondrous poem...congratulations on your featured poem
L Avatar
January 6, 2009 at 7:21 AM
Thanks for the comments, the above scenario sounds like one i had, very well put together
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