Ants

Several black ants
carry crumbs of food

over the hill
then disappear beneath the sand

while another trail
follows the path back to the pantry door
where an open pack of cookies
lies on the floor

One by one the crumbs are
carried back to the nest

the ants move in a steady stream
having found enough food to keep them fed
for weeks

every little worker ant
does her part without complaint

while the queen
lays another thousand eggs
to replace the ones who will expire

the parade will continue for days
as long as the homeowner
is unaware of their invasion

without a moment to waste

the procession proceeds in silence
until every morsel of food
is stored deep inside the earth
for the colony of ants to consume.