Illegal Immigrant Cockroaches!
This third poem of mine was a "Featured Blog Post" on July 19, 2007.
http://blogs.sulekha.com/blogs
Illegal Immigrant Cockroaches!
Legal immigration is not one of their pledges.
Those sneaky, deceitful, hordes of hitchhikers,
Blissfully unconcerned about US lawmakers!
During my family’s planned South India tour,
We had finally reached the famed city of Tanjore.
‘Twas June, the weather was hot, our bus had finally halted,
Our guide had chosen a hotel that was time-proven and tested.
It was late in the afternoon and we had already unpacked,
Our suitcases were spread out, open wide and flat.
The hotel room appeared scrubbed and immensely clean,
First time during that tour, there wasn’t much to complain.
That is when I spotted, this clever family of four,
Brown skin, brown shells and tanned all over!
Seemingly in a hurry, the father, mother and two sons,
Scurried across the mosaic floor, where suitcases were undone!
This family circumambulated the entire rim of my suitcase,
Before I could reach down quickly to shut the lid and compress!
Don’t you consider me to be an evil, sadistic poacher!
Let me remind you that my title refers to Roaches!
Tired of their mundane existence in that famed city of Tanjore,
Roaches contrived to use luggage, executing an exodus to Bangalore!
Back in Bangalore, as I had expected, these critters didn’t disembark,
Doubled in size, this family had mapped their destination’s final mark.
Towards America their antennas aimed, the land of milk and honey,
Engrossed in planning, packing, booking, I was only thinking money.
American customs inquired if I carried agricultural imports,
Truthfully I denied agriculture, as roaches aren’t plant parts!
Passports and visas required, but US regulations hadn’t stalled them,
Within my luggage, they remained hidden until I drove home then.
No sooner had I reached home and opened one of my suitcases,
Out came bursting from all corners, 10 generations of cockroaches!
A sickening sight it was to see hundreds big and small,
Grandpas, grandmas, uncles, aunts, and children of them all!
Husband, son and myself got ready to put up a messy fight,
But the most efficient family member turned out to be my cat!
Poppy, my year old tabby, who had never tasted critters,
Wasted no time crunching and chewing those fancy, exotic, fritters.
Yes, he feasted on these roaches daily, enjoying every eggshell,
Until he had gorged so much that his tummy began to swell!
Families of roaches had all boarded up my warm dishwasher,
Every time a roach peeked out, POPPEEE, I would holler!
Yes, my dear furry Poppy was always my little savior,
Until we found time to research every cockroach killer!
These roaches weren’t ordinary species; they weren’t mere Indica,
This variety was the tiny, prolific, ferocious, Blattella Germanica!
None of the Roach motels, baits or boric acid was an effective operator,
By eating partially dead roaches, Poppy would have been in a stupor!
In the meantime, we Googled “species” for “Blattella Germanica”,
Ordered a special potent remedy, from the East Coast of America!
Saddened by his monotonous diet, Poppy ended his gluttonous reign,
He yowled, scratched and vowed aloud, “Me meow’s a vegetarian!”
He even stopped teasing, prodding and prying these insects for play!
When we finally secured our potent batch, we spread them every place.
Lo and behold, generations were wiped out with just one application!
Ambitious descendents of Tanjore’s roaches failed to become American!
The characters in this poem are entirely real. Any resemblance to actual persons is not coincidental because they are my husband, son and myself! Any resemblance to the remaining characters in this poem is purely unintended and coincidental!! Anyone resembling Poppy have my appreciation. Anyone resembling the cockroaches have deepest sympathies!
By Ranjini Sharma
Copyright © 2007 Ranjini Sharma All Rights Reserved
http://blogs.sulekha.com/blogs
Illegal Immigrant Cockroaches!
Legal immigration is not one of their pledges.
Those sneaky, deceitful, hordes of hitchhikers,
Blissfully unconcerned about US lawmakers!
During my family’s planned South India tour,
We had finally reached the famed city of Tanjore.
‘Twas June, the weather was hot, our bus had finally halted,
Our guide had chosen a hotel that was time-proven and tested.
It was late in the afternoon and we had already unpacked,
Our suitcases were spread out, open wide and flat.
The hotel room appeared scrubbed and immensely clean,
First time during that tour, there wasn’t much to complain.
That is when I spotted, this clever family of four,
Brown skin, brown shells and tanned all over!
Seemingly in a hurry, the father, mother and two sons,
Scurried across the mosaic floor, where suitcases were undone!
This family circumambulated the entire rim of my suitcase,
Before I could reach down quickly to shut the lid and compress!
Don’t you consider me to be an evil, sadistic poacher!
Let me remind you that my title refers to Roaches!
Tired of their mundane existence in that famed city of Tanjore,
Roaches contrived to use luggage, executing an exodus to Bangalore!
Back in Bangalore, as I had expected, these critters didn’t disembark,
Doubled in size, this family had mapped their destination’s final mark.
Towards America their antennas aimed, the land of milk and honey,
Engrossed in planning, packing, booking, I was only thinking money.
American customs inquired if I carried agricultural imports,
Truthfully I denied agriculture, as roaches aren’t plant parts!
Passports and visas required, but US regulations hadn’t stalled them,
Within my luggage, they remained hidden until I drove home then.
No sooner had I reached home and opened one of my suitcases,
Out came bursting from all corners, 10 generations of cockroaches!
A sickening sight it was to see hundreds big and small,
Grandpas, grandmas, uncles, aunts, and children of them all!
Husband, son and myself got ready to put up a messy fight,
But the most efficient family member turned out to be my cat!
Poppy, my year old tabby, who had never tasted critters,
Wasted no time crunching and chewing those fancy, exotic, fritters.
Yes, he feasted on these roaches daily, enjoying every eggshell,
Until he had gorged so much that his tummy began to swell!
Families of roaches had all boarded up my warm dishwasher,
Every time a roach peeked out, POPPEEE, I would holler!
Yes, my dear furry Poppy was always my little savior,
Until we found time to research every cockroach killer!
These roaches weren’t ordinary species; they weren’t mere Indica,
This variety was the tiny, prolific, ferocious, Blattella Germanica!
None of the Roach motels, baits or boric acid was an effective operator,
By eating partially dead roaches, Poppy would have been in a stupor!
In the meantime, we Googled “species” for “Blattella Germanica”,
Ordered a special potent remedy, from the East Coast of America!
Saddened by his monotonous diet, Poppy ended his gluttonous reign,
He yowled, scratched and vowed aloud, “Me meow’s a vegetarian!”
He even stopped teasing, prodding and prying these insects for play!
When we finally secured our potent batch, we spread them every place.
Lo and behold, generations were wiped out with just one application!
Ambitious descendents of Tanjore’s roaches failed to become American!
The characters in this poem are entirely real. Any resemblance to actual persons is not coincidental because they are my husband, son and myself! Any resemblance to the remaining characters in this poem is purely unintended and coincidental!! Anyone resembling Poppy have my appreciation. Anyone resembling the cockroaches have deepest sympathies!
By Ranjini Sharma
Copyright © 2007 Ranjini Sharma All Rights Reserved
Love to hear from one and all. You may leave comments if you have a Gmail account. Those without Gmail account can email to ranjinisharma@gmail.com
Thanks
Thanks
Labels: Cockroach, Cockroaches, hitchhikers, Illegal Immigrant Cockroaches, ranjini sharma, tanjore
posted by Ranjini Sharma @ 5:25 PM
