“All God’s Flying Things”

 

I’ve seen some houseflies in my time,

 but he was the bad boy of the west,

 he had a backpack, boots, and gloves,

 and bravery medals on his chest

 

He was faster than a speeding bullet,

 if you took a hose to him,

 you could hope that he might drown,

 but he’d take a bath first, then he’d swim

 

Fly paper couldn’t stop him,

 he knew well where to land,

 He threw stones at spider webs,

 from his back pack full of sand

 

If you tried to get him with bug spray,

 he’d just buzz around your head,

 until you inhaled enough of it,

 that your nose was cherry red

 

A fly swatter couldn’t get him,

 he was faster than the speed of light,

 one second he was on your nose,

 the next, well out of sight

 

I finally had to give up,

 and let him do his thing,

 as far as houseflies go,

 he was the undisputed king

 

Most everybody has their pets,

 fish, canaries, dogs, or cats,

 a few keep snakes and lizards,

 and even less keep sleeping bats

 

Fred and I now get along,

 we’re doing okay fine,

 I give him honey and cookie crumbs,

 and now and then a drop of wine

 

It is a busy world,

 low maintenance pets are now the thing,

 don’t look at me so strange,

 Fred is greased lightning with his wings. . .

 

Dayton, Nevada

© 08/08/04