Ant

Ant

by Marshal Gebbie

An ant is just an ant my son 
An impact it wont make 
But a million ants will move the world 
A conviction you won’t shake. 
An ant is still a living thing 
It eats, it breaths, it works 
It runs in an environment 
Where the hostile spider lurks. 
It works in regulation 
With a thousand brother ants 
To a strict cooperation 
That achieves communal stance. 
An intelligence is present, 
A timetable has been set 
This organized endeavor 
Makes it’s success an winning bet. 


An ant makes love, it rears it’s young 
It grooms it’s brother’s hide. 
And if enraged an ant will fight 
A foe a thousand times it’s size. 
It’s glittering antennae 
And it’s shiny compound eye 
It’s economy of movement 
And compulsion to deny 
Involvement with any cause 
Apart from that one sent 
By the Queen Ant’s regulations 
At the Ant God’s monument. 


I am moved with admiration 
For this tiny creatures heart, 
It’s commitment to community 
And resolve to set apart 
All individual aspiration 
And selfish action of it’s own. 
To gather condiments for nest and Queen 
Compelled forever more…to roam. 


Marshalg 
Mangere Bridge 
17th May 2008