Symbiosis

colonizers of a virgin planet.

constant companions.

of lovely long tresses.

scratch, scratch, scratch.

god! are they

breakdancing 

having sex 

digging holes

all the way to China?

scratch, scratch, scratch.

face wash, lipstick, kajal, perfume.

(scratch, scratch, scratch).

medicated oil and shampoo.

tormented writhings. 

fevered imaginings.

little settlements

– no,  whole civilizations –

annihilated.

tiny wriggling body

frantic waving legs

scratch, scratch, scratch.

thumbnails meet.

loud click.

one black dot

is now deceased.

scratch, scratch, scratch.

first appeared in Femina magazine 15 Dec 2000