Instead of a way out
she finds a sack.
It arrives at the greenhouse
each Thursday.
Once set down,
the sack fidgets
until she pulls open
its neck,
and pours out one kilo
of ladybirds.
For a moment,
she sees only
stunned treasure
hissing to a standstill.
But soon
the ladybirds fly
whirring.
Hunting, they stud
the soft hurt
of tomato stems.
At night
they fall from her clothes,
brilliant
even in darkness.
Christy Ducker is a poet, reviewer and editor. She has also taught creative writing since 1999. Publications include Mslexia, The Wolf, and Smoke. She is working towards a first collection of poems as part of her Creative Writing MA at Newcastle University.
She lives and works in Northumberland.
Follow the link for a list of other Poems of the Month.
Getting Rid of the Aphids © 2006 Christy Ducker: used with permission.
Copyright of this poem remains with the poet: please do not download or republish without permission.
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This page last updated 6th June 2006