ants are automata
for a child to take apart
and learn how hard it is
to stop a thing from moving

and at that age an ant
is quiet large: easy to observe
how well it moves
with its head excised
- only a a trifle disordered
and as aimless as before

pain as sharp as this
is rare. what will you do with it?

May 31,1992

umashankar manthravadi

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ants-are-automata/