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,
deeming 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 2012

Poem

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Palmer Avatar
June 20, 2012 at 5:41 PM
bang it again Keith,gosh you made it get away,lol,love this piece,straight to my favourites....
Wesley Avatar
June 20, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Cats aren't the only things with 9 lives Keith, your struggl4e was a tresure to read and made my cough worse from laughing. I think you'll be wiser next time!
Bauer Avatar
June 20, 2012 at 2:19 PM
keith, this is absolutely hilarious! your phrasing is just magnificent (my favorite it "I, with magazine extended dealt a blow, his life was ended" - it actually reminded me of "the raven"). you could write about almost anything and i'd love it...
Henderson Avatar
June 20, 2012 at 12:18 PM
lol...you got me laughing today Keith. Thank You my friend! Peace and blessings to you.
Roberts Avatar
June 20, 2012 at 10:55 AM
hahaha, I hate bugs and am pleased to say here in the northwest we have no such visitors as cockroaches, I have luckily only seen them in movies, ( now ants are another story, those we have in abundance) Thank you so much Keith for your kind comments on my poetry
The Drunken Poet Avatar
June 20, 2012 at 10:52 AM
I thoroughly enjoyed this write of yours!!!GREAT WRITE!!!!
Palli Avatar
June 20, 2012 at 10:43 AM
What a nightmare! Got a chuckle, thanks
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