Kit Kelen #715 - consider

715

consider

these little black legs

black heads, bods

sugar seekers

surely they are the way

and follow where you cannot

on the track you'll see them pause

exchange felicitations

and go probosc - a tête-à-tête

what is it they know?

surely they are beginning a storm

so many feet they are

each is black with the idea of weather

relentless to the voiceless track

o worthy pioners

and turtles to the hare

make wombat hutches of the little world

build a little pile

without even the bones

a feeling is in them

faith is not a question

what is it they know?

Earth is so far deep of them

and climb to the tip of the top of the tree

you could say a farm

but then you are their pet

life is their luxury

no vertigo up there

no claustro

when they are all the tunnel is

they are the earth and give it colour

there's a Bible of them telling

they weigh like the silence of judgement

all in all they weigh with us

they are a polity surpassing

smell them -- acid masses

on a spree

with little cartoon faces each

alive!

and up for it as you or me

they never loll

or call day quits

but bear brave towers on

all black

toothed sweet

watch them as the ship goes down

crumb hoisted

or this least cloying grain

more than the whole tribe precious

all climbing climbing captains

and sometimes solo

still they stand

ponderous

as if axe in hand

this world at their feet

and given to consider

here is the ache of destiny

and death - their harmless sting

and telling

I think they're telling rain

the ants won't give us a thought

see!

each wears a little workman's cap

to get on with the day