Flies

Like annoying blow-flies, they buzz
between hosts.  Continually being
flicked away, only to go back, until
a hard slap nearly crushes
their fragile lives.  Similar to
flies, they are persistent, unable
to understand "no," and its many
ways of being communicated.  As
the night progresses, the flies are
able to lengthen their stays, until
the fly swatter comes out.
Eventually the flies find something
to stick to, but it usually is
another fly.

 

written by Chich, Chicago's Australian Poet Laureate

 

[more poems] [back to Sean Parnell's Chicago]