ALLEGORY Poem by Ethan Sheppard

And as I lifted the shingle from the roof, the ants were exposed
(It’s hard to think of their being there before I revealed them).
they became a compact scurrying horde
scurrying around a pile of white larvae
And I didn’t smash them.

Very quickly they made a system —
each little black strongman would hoist a larva over his head
And carry it away.
The first ant blazed a trail across the roof
And he was followed closely.
And so they formed a neat one-by-one path
Like ants do.

I don’t know where they were going to take their babies.
Surely the ants did.

anyway I tried not to kill anyone.
They knew they couldn’t stay. I think they knew their home was a temporary one. They
Left.
Ants can live anywhere.

Author: poetryfest

Submit your Poetry to the Festival. Three Options: 1) To post. 2) To have performed by an actor 3) To be made into a film. View all posts by poetryfest