on my way to school
saw ants by the bundle
having picnic in the sandbox
where no kids play in anymore
just somewhere for the boys to pee in
I saw ants holding hands and labor
carrying bits of chips and raindrops for dip
saw them crouched under bombardment
I heard the bell
on my way back from work
I heard ants by the bundle
talking among themselves
saying let’s go home together
heard a song
but they didn’t know the name or the lyrics
me neither
so I stood in the wind
the darkness hurdled over me
the cold chasing me down the street
I saw ants by the bundle
every ant hurts the same so they stay as close as possible
on the train back I saw a lone ant
she was gone.