Playing God

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were younger

my brother and I

summer had come

our family poor

vacations were few

we had to find

our own amusement

taking short walks

riding our bikes

exploring each rock

we soon became

bored and restless

imaginations exhausted

we'd sit in the grass

watching ants crawl

over and under 

our small little toes

creating an underpass

a militia of ants

red, black, and brown

marching to and fro.

 

Suddenly,

inspired by thought

my brother looked up

breaking my daze

reading his mind

I picked up a cup

the ants crawled in

we carried them up

they scurried around

confused and enraged

nearly a scream

but way too small

to create any sound

they tried to escape

without a lid

I used my hand

trapping them in.

 

We stood before

a trough of water

black water bugs

swam freely below

watching from above

the sun felt hotter

burning our faces

we dip the cup

below our reflection

ousting the ants

scrambling  below

floating back up

little specs of color

swimming for dear life.

  

Motionless now

using the same cup

we gather the ants up

placing them on top

the dry sidewalk

eagerly we wait

what once was still

begins to twitch

an antennae here

a leg of another

one laid infantile

some stayed paralyzed

a few walked away

disoriented maybe

staggering with vertigo

a few carried the dead

cannibalism at play.

 

The theater of morbidity

came to an end

my brother and I

amused and enlightened

we began our search

for more ants

we would not discriminate

red, black, or brown

there were many

sacrifice would be few

besides.................

there was nothing else to do

but play God.

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

This isn't exactly a poem, but not really a story, I don't know what you call it, I just hope you like it?

Reviews

[David Scott]

It is a twistEd but common misconception of how God treats humanity. Things feel this way for sure... It is not Hus character.
I loved the write though. Children have great capacity for love, empathy, anger, etc... They just live out what occurs to them. Is this innocence?
I'm thinking... ;-)

[Incendiary Grievances]

As thoroughly disturbed as I am, your structure was admirable, and the point was perfect. Human beings are far from flawless, but childhood comes close, despite innocent morbidity.

[SkinlessFrank]

I wonder what it is about childhood that makes us want to pull legs off spiders? Certainly boredom and playing god is part of the answer, and as I think you point out so well, a fascination with death itself.

[Sethnicity]

Call it A LongTrey! I love this piece the meter speaks volumes to the innocence of youth in memory.. The long sweep of lines before each break gives it the feel of a wandering summer day! Well writen what ever you want to call it... Write some more and take me on a journey! You described this so well it's like you were looking of my shoulder as a kid... Are you a God!? :)

[M Garcia]

This was nicely written. I can relate to the boredom. Was never fond of bugs in any shape or form, but when I got really bored I'd take a jar and catch spiders even though they scared me.

[kevluvtory]

I would call it poetic prose about the realities of growing up and learning, the knowledge gained as individuals whilst young and unencumbered with too much morality seeking out and finding their own limits to take towards adulthood.

[silentpoet]

This made me think a lot of every thing. I started to think when I was younger and things I did with my siblings and just how I saw things In general at a time..I enjoyed It..

[solo2be]

Very well written, thank you for sharing.

[Dream Weaver]

I really enjoyed this write, it brought back memories
of every kid who had to much time on their hands and
were bored stiff, As for me it wasn't a cup of brackish
water but a bottle of lighter fluid squirted straight down
into the ant hole and a toss of a match, instant flaming ants :P
I'm not proud of it, but kids will be kids..

Nice write Muse :)

[Judas Hammer]

WOW we had a shared experience. This is awesome. YOur brought me back to my Childhood when I was a Demi-god with a water death fetish for ants. Amazing. You should submit this.