With earnest haste
I consumed the Gyoza
which came utterly instantaneously
ironic in that I was in a hurry
Oyakodon soon followed.

As I devoured it all
while gulping Ginger Ale
I was interrupted
by the man four seats away
who was swatting at a fly.

In a hurried fashion he did swat
which made me think
of how that fly senses wind
the supersensitive changes
in the world around for protection.

I waited until it made its way
then gently moved my hand
in its direction barely causing a fuss
as if I was just about my day
until I gently trapped it.

I was able to grasp it
between my thumb and pointer
suddenly realizing my power
a Zen-like moment between
hunter and prey.

Though instead of for food
it was to protect the sanctity
of current consumption
and without hesitation
I forward rolled my fingers.

Like a two-sided roller
flattening pasta I crushed it
and suddenly the event was done
no one had seen my patience paying off
as I placed the bug in a napkin

cleaning my fingers
I contemplated giving the man
the napkin as a sort of victory over him
but I thought better
since the fly and I shared that moment.

After another quick gulp
couple bites of food
an exhale of relaxation
if but for a moment
until another fly flew by

I accepted the fate
multiplication's man's worst enemy
an ever-growing population
means one day this world won't hold us
until we cannot multiply anymore

the world fights back
reset button finally pressed
and we become that fly
only our entirety is lost
not just one hungry mouth.

09/17/2008

Posted on 09/17/2008
Copyright © 2024 Jeffrey Parren