“How I Spent My Summer Vacation”

A swarm of them invaded my peaceful yard and I became their prisoner, trapped within my safe and windowed house.

Hatred for the wasp like creatures filled my heart. “Cicada killers” every one who robbed me of my afternoons out in the sun.

            My son and husband feared them not and the young one sat out on the porch stoop and watched their frenzied flight for hours at time.

Not I, a quivering coward sealed up in an armored fort. Only on the most urgent of errands did I venture forth.

“Stand still don’t move and they won’t bother you,” everybody said.

But I ran like the wind and they were out witted so I said. The haven’t caught me yet.

Besides they only want one victim me and death would come most certainly.

One sting and I would seek a higher state. From shock I’ve heard of such a death.

Well they are gone a last and I am free but what a price to pay all of summer’s glorious days.

They are gone at last except my inheritance they’ve left.

Their eggs will hatch within the earth and whining they will return to sentence me in my next summer.

Poor devil that I am.