Nature Tromp - iii Hill

iii. Hill

let’s begin in flight
both male drone and breeding female—go
carried from every ant hill placed on the limbs of grass
wings spread out in a colony escape
not just your little ant hill, one outside your window
but all little ant hills

a lift up as wind catches wings
she pounces, cat claws attached to screen
she has no demure meow

the drones drop off, sex caught mid-flight
a fall to death
breeders are left to build anew
a quick chew to release her wings
and she’s laying it all out
first brood chamber, you’re all minors,
obey and wait it out

New worker:
here is your abrupt temporal caste
lasting days 2-4 at a time:
1 care for your queen & siblings
2 dig dig there is always nest work
3 forage for food and defend your home

the tapping of rain
beating and mashing down
your hill a swirling mudpie

minor media major (soldier)
the inescapable physicality of it all

when a pack of you climbs up my piping
I wonder who is who
if soldiers are so forthcoming?
never slipping or sliding down the porcelain smooth
but popping out antennaes through piped in holes

when I turn on the spigot full force
you crumple and curl
I watch as you
let out attack and propaganda pheremones
confuse or a t t a c k,
c o n f u s e and attack

mandible jaw working up and down
that trail behind you warm
you’ll be swarming soon
but there’s no food here
just cold tile floors

my attempts at destruction are futile, god save the queen