I killed an ant today.
On the sidewalk did he meet
me there with my deadly feet
and taking one more step again
I crushed him with my foot and then
I looked and saw that I had missed
and saw that then the ant had twist
there ‘tween the tread upon my shoe
but now knew something was askew.

As he left his home that day
he could not have thought that may-
be he’d be running for his life
and hopeless, face a giant’s strife.
But now he knew; so I saw
him look at me with fear and awe
and hopelessly he dashed away
with speed that comes from stark dismay.

I killed an ant today.
And when the first step did not do
he hoping? perhaps that I withdrew?
but no, on him twisted my toe
and that then was the fatal blow.
Like twisting on a cigarette
my shoe then there made good its threat.

I killed an ant today.
If he spoke he’d asked me why
so wantonly he had to die
or say “I till soil” in his defense
but that would make no difference,
“I’m not in your house” well no,
“and I help all the plants to grow
and I don’t even know to bite
why is it me that you must smite?”

I killed an ant today.
Then looked at his body broken
thinking of his words unspoken
and what more was there to say?
I had killed an ant today.
I did not send my only child
to become an ant and be reviled
by other ants for all ants sake;
no sacrifice like that I make.
No, I had only killed an ant
an act of which I now recant
and something I was thankful for
that I had never thought before
but grateful then for this good thought:
that God was God and I was not.