GREETINGS

greetings
I am a cockroach
enamored of your
day-to-day company

an ancient species
with far more time
logged on this Earth
than man

but more than willing to exploit
his shoddiness and sloppiness
so I and my kind can survive

and speaking of my fellow creatures
wherever there’s one of me
there’s likely a thousand more

breaking down your pitiable defenses
those pitiable poisons
puttied cracks

proliferating
at a pace
your family blueprint
cannot imagine

in walls
ceilings
under floorboards
anywhere dark
anyplace hidden

and chances are
with our super-adaptability
we’ll outlive your race

so greetings for now
commiserations for later