ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Trimming up sites for the weekend yesterday and hit a green ants nest, you gotta marvel at how protective they are.



Wrote this a while back.


Tiny Green Warriors

They were feasting on the dog food, so I set upon their trail
up the downpipe near the toilet and along the back porch rail.
Down the far end near the balustrade they found a palm frond hanging low
but it only touched the railing every time the wind would blow.

Then five or six would scurry and across the void would charge
till the wind would move the frond again and make the gap too large.
I traced them as they meandered through branches high above my head
and found where they had built their home in the hibiscus near the shed.

I marvelled at its fine construction, leaves pulled both left and right
held in place with silken threads that drew the structure tight.
They bristled as I shook the branch their abdomens held high.
Like soldiers, battle ready, weapons reaching to the sky.

Should I destroy this structure? I could, I had the power.
But I must have stood and watched them for nigh on near an hour.
I used a stick to make a hole where two flattened branches met.
Their workers streamed out into battle to face this awful threat.

These tiny arboreal creatures so small and yet so brave.
prepared to die in battle, for their offspring they must save.
Were they such a problem, did they cause such grief or fright.
Should I destroy the fruits of all their labour like some coward in the night?

Would it make a lot of difference if I simply let them be?
Was there a need to smash their home, none that I could see.
I left the nest and ventured back to where the frond did sway
I trimmed the branches back and let them live to fight another day.

Bob Pacey ( C )

So these little creatures were formicating.

I really like this poem, Bob! A refreshing perspective on creatures that most people dismiss as "pests". Yet what a great example of industriousness they are!

"Go to the ant, you lazy one," says the Proverb!

Cheers, Shelley

G/day Bob

My minds in better shape than I thought - I actually remember this (or something very similar) from somewhere.

Wow Terry is certainly is.


I originally posted the first version way back in 2011 that's a long time ago and you still remember .



Bob

I thought it was familiar too. Nasty little critters.

What a memory hey?

One reason I remember it, was that it helped me recall an unfortunate contact with them many years ago when I was up at Ayr,
and I went with a girl I knew and her family on a picnic come fishing trip somewhere.

Terry

That's a good one Bob. Thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Wazza

Wonderful observation of the industrious activity of these little critters Bob. I confess I'm not fond of insects, but I really enjoyed this poem and was glad you let them be!

Brilliant poem Bob, probably one of your very best!