Sharing Our Living Quarters
I can't be bothered killing you, Cockroach –
big old bush cocky all on your own in my kitchen.
Must have thought you had the place to yourself
after dark, and fair enough – only I couldn't sleep
and came out to make some soothing cocoa.
You're not one of those nasty little foreign ones
who appear in swarms and are tiny enough
to get into the wiring and wreck the whole house
in a few generations. Once they get in, they're hard
to get rid of. For them I'd bring the big guns out.
But you're a native, relatively harmless. You tried
to move fast and hide when I barged in and made it all
light. Instead, not quick enough, you kept very still
in the shadowy corner where your brown shell
was less conspicuous ... and I turned a blind eye.
You were here first, after all. I don't dislike you,
even if I did jump and scream when I first saw you.
I'm happy to co-exist – just so long as you don't turn up
in the space when I want to use it; so long as you stay
hidden around the outskirts, and don't upset anyone.
It's always a bit risky posting a poem like this. What if everyone thinks it's about a cockroach? Well, it is. But there's a sub-text. What if people who get the sub-text think it's me speaking? Well, it is – but satirically. So I suppose I'll write a note and give the game away, to save being misunderstood ... hopefully.
Linked to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #478
Well, I am not sure I would be as benevolent as you. But I do appreciate the idea of peaceful co-existing with the creatures of nature, but - for me - not cockroaches. Smiles.
ReplyDeleteBush cockies are OK. Just lost. I throw them back into the garden.
ReplyDeleteI let them find their own way back.
DeleteI would have thought the cockroach was the least of your worries with disease, famine, wars and wild weather attacking us on all sides. On the contrary it is possible that all the other wild things will rise up and try to get rid os us as we are such stupid tenants on the Earth!
ReplyDeleteFirst generation American here, and it's hard not to see the subtext, considering that text is written out in all caps in 3 AM tweets here in the United States.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm glad someone can see it! It seems to be eluding my fellow-Aussies who are commenting here. (Of course, our leaders aren't such great tweeters as yours.)
DeleteIt was cleverly done. The subject is the only human in their world. The rest is unwanted vermin, or tolerated vermin--as long as they stay in their place.
DeletePrecisely.
DeleteI'll take the poem at face value: You, cockroach, have your space, and I have mine, and we will respect each other's space, agreed? Otherwise, there may be trouble brewing!
ReplyDeleteEven at face value, the speaker of the poem is the one who has the power to set the terms.
Deleteat first i thought it was about the insect, and the poem could still be about it. live and let live.
ReplyDeleteand after reading the notes, it could be about a bigger picture, the 'living quarters' could be your town or even country. (and the cockroach is something else.) :)
It is about the insect and also about the current attitudes of the ruling white elite here in Australia towards both the 'foreign ones' and the 'native' people.
DeleteI read this a couple of times and felt as though it was directed at world politics .. confusion and mayhem .. we can't kill the cockroaches .. maybe it refers to different kinds of races living together .. despite general dislike and racism ... " I'm happy to co-exist – just so long as you don't turn up
ReplyDeletein the space when I want to use it; so long as you stay hidden around the outskirts, and don't upset anyone." it's powerfully rendered!
Yes, it doers refer to different races living together, and also to a power imbalance in that situation.
DeleteThe word cockroach has been used for very sinister matters... if I remember right names like this preceded the massacres in Rwanda. i think live and let live could work for me.
ReplyDeleteIn some situations, it all depends on who has the power to say, 'Live and let live' (or alternatively, 'Stay out of sight and don't be a nuisance'.) In Australia that still rests with the Caucasians.
DeleteI'm fairly sure it was an expression popular during a very specific time period in Germany as well.
DeleteWell, I can be pretty dense, so I appreciate your note. I then reread the poem and appreciate the poem so much more. It doesn't just apply to Australia, and I know because I've been an American cockroach.
ReplyDeleteI can most precisely articulate the situation I'm familiar with, but yes, I'm aware that it can be very similar elsewhere. It's because I wear a white skin – the tiny touch of Asian (Indian) invisible – that I wanted to spell it out that, 'Hey this is satire, not my views'. Things are a bit better here than they once were but still have a long way to go. And then there's the situation re 'the foreign ones', particularly refugees, which I touch on in the poem too.
DeleteLike someone very brilliant and sexy and whose hair and eyelashes are starting to grow back (all right, it's me!) once said, "A soul can miss so much, if she thinks she's done reading a poem without looking under its skirt first." Also, I love satire. It's one of those things that keeps me talking to people (to certain deaf and blind by choice people) without starting to scream or doing something even more regrettable.
ReplyDeleteThe first line is perfect.
Thank you. I adore satire myself, but have seldom attempted it – and I know it can be notoriously difficult to bring off, as people tend to take it literally.
DeleteSubtext is a little lost in the shudders. :) Critters in the corners are something I'm constantly on the lookout for.
ReplyDeleteWell, the literal interpretation also applies.
DeleteLove it! Wonderful job on the internal dialogue (which I have found, can be tricky to nail).
ReplyDeleteReading no metaphors into this one, but unlike you im not that patient or kind to roaches in my kitchen
ReplyDeleteThanks fir dropping by my sumie Sunday today
Much🕊love
I hate cockroaches but somehow you made me care about this one! Real or metaphoric.
ReplyDeleteThe intolerance is ugly and mainstream and getting worse, sadly. We need to call it out for what it is.
ReplyDeleteI re-read your poem. It expresses more than meets the eye. If only we all learned to respect each other's religion, ethnicity, culture and race, the world would be so much better place to co-exist without the intolerance that is so prevalent.
ReplyDeleteThis is a mirror image of the world we live in today. Tolerance is key .
ReplyDeleteI admit it: I took it at face value, at first. As satire of the growing intolerance of Ultra-nationalist leaders across the world, it's definitely top shelf! The white-priviledged arrogance of the speaker should serve as a wake-up call to all--especially those blindly enjoying their priviledge!
ReplyDelete