Rounding the curve at bottom of hill behind

A sight come upon to totally blow one's mind

A field of gnats and flies swarming all around

Waiting to attack all who come up the mound



Struggled hard to keep them from nose and mouth

So many wanted in - it was tough to keep them out

Finally just covered face with hands and arms in a kind

Of mask ... and then just walked up the hill totally blind



But some got around my mask and made it into eyes

Frustrating me no end - it was really quite a surprise 

And the more I struggled with all those little pests

The more I sweated - so the more they liked me best



Finally made it up to the very crest of the high hill

And as I did - they levelled off and I became still

The irony is - the source of the swarms of gnats 

I had now come level with - the neighbor - that's



So mean and inconsiderate to all of his close neighbors

As he won't fix his septic system - too much of a splurge

And yet - he recently installed cable - really necessary

Which just exemplifies his disregard and lack of caring



- Tristram



(c) Christopher W. Thomas

8:40am Wed. April 1st, 1998