Armadillidium vulgare, The Roly Poly
& Chimney Rock taught me Isaiah was a protector; bugs are harmless

We are more than blood relation; he could even teach love isn’t like bugs

Solenopsis invicta, The Red Imported Fire Ant
& Lovett Elementary taught love is boundaries, unprompted hugs

Met with shoves into ants mounds by my crush; favor returned with pain

Pinus taeda, The Loblolly Pine
& Brays Bayou’s bridge taught running from pain, used as weapons by my brother

Escape assignments and negativity bias with a sprint home

Periplaneta americana, The American Cockroach
& Chimney Rock plus Third Ward taught home has limits, jokes from middle school met

With mine; we grow “thick” skin and poverty jokes are hopefully untrue

Lepomis macrochirus, The Bluegill
& Burton Camps taught me being a natural at it all is folly

But not swimming like fishes is too much for my competitiveness

Homo Sapien, The Human
& my environment taught forgiveness is vital for my sanity

Making sure internalized habits are never again my instincts