44839: Poetry From a Zip Code (2018 Edition)

As there are a few more days in April, which is National Poetry Month, this pedometer geek decided to post poems from 2018’s edition of the Huron, Ohio poetry anthology, 44839: Poetry From a Zip Code, 2018. This poet also had four poems chosen for the anthology, and all of them tend to represent my impressions of the small city in which I reside. This one is called “Battle of Lake Erie.”

Battle of Lake Erie

 

Each summer

we are invaded,

by mayflies,

thousands and thousands of troops

descending upon hapless citizens.

They are known, alternately,

even affectionately,

as American or Canadian soldiers,

depending on one’s location.

 

Over night,

they appear, blown

by the caprice of the wind,

onto land

covering siding, garages,

windows, and storefronts.

Covering everything in their path.

 

Looking like steroid-induced mosquitoes,

they live but a few days.

Forced to fast with no mouth parts,

yet providing food for perch, for walleye,

for insect-eating birds.

Here with one goal,

to procreate,

with long ovipositors,

they are sex personified.

Molting once, twice, and then gone,

leaving their carcasses

behind stinking on the ground,

crunching underneath feet.

 

The life cycle circles

back to the fresh water,

where they mate

keeping the lake healthy,

repeating itself

over and over.

 

Invasion, indeed,

not the 1812 battle,

But one that is necessary

and only creates winners.

~Nancy Brady, 2018