Ruby Red

I spent my day shopping for rubies Luscious, juicy, a delight to eat Little bits in a conglomerate A sweet treat in the heat I spent my day shopping for rubies Luscious, juicy, a delight to eat Little bits in a conglomerate A sweet treat in the heat Scouring the bushes for a bushel of berry Tiny cuts weeping red Plop, thwop, thwack into my bag A collection by which I am fed Little mantids crawling up my arm Eating the endless ticks Watching them devour the parasites The red blood making me sick Finally I have enough I wash them and dry them in sun Arrange them neatly on my plate And devour them one by one Little mantids crawling up my arm Eating the endless ticks Watching them devour the parasites The red blood making me sick Finally I have enough I wash them and dry them in sun Arrange them neatly on my plate And devour them one by one *** July 26, 2020