Paul holds a fist full of crickets.
He fears they are suicidal.
They launched themselves
from the grassy bank
into the lazy stream
filled with trout.
The fish he snatched
the crickets away from
gives him an accusatory stare
and he worries
his saving the crickets
condemns the fish to hunger.
One cricket squeezes through Paul’s fingers
and launches itself into the current.
The fish gobbles up the cricket
then swims away from Paul’s empty hand.
copyright © 2022 Kenneth P. Gurney
An interesting TED talk by Ed Yong about parasites in nature is at this link.
Umflop 