They weren't there yesterday

 

they weren’t there yesterday,

when the sun was shining

the seedlings had finally emerged in the vegetable garden, small

clods of earth pushed aside, the oh so delicate

first leaves opening themselves, so innocently,

like wide-eyed babies

to the hellish, unseen night time voraciousness of the roly-poly,

those brown segmented crustaceans, monsters

their sharp teeth devouring that which was created with love

they weren’t there yesterday, having only arrived,

suitcases in hand on a night train, I am reminded that

sunshine can be followed by a devouring darkness.