I grabbed her off the vine
this Colorado Potato Beetle
and immediately considered
crushing her in two or three.
The damage she had wrought
was absolute, death warranted.
But I decided to send a message
to the others out there hovering.
I held her by her stupid shell
and dangled her high there
above the earth covered with
dead blossoms and barren leaves.
I brought my face to hers and
I told her very distinctly:
Stay away from my Yukon Golds
if you want to live – you get me?
And tell the others to do the same.
I squeezed so she’d get the point
then released my fingers and watched
her fly away, a tiny ball of copper.
© Chagall 2014
