In a countless procession
from some place down under
they march like clock work.
The scent of ripe chokecherries
has fueled their alarm system
Alerting them—
it’s jelly making time.
How profound!–
Not nary a sound
as the ants make a bee-line
trail to the kitchen sink;
Possibly they’re thirsty and
need a little drink;
Or, better yet they
want to taste the ripeness
of the berries
as the temperatures
soar upward into the mid-90’s
And, of course, I’ve left a
little jelly juice in a
saucer in the sink.
So, they attempt a little swan dive
and I want to shout as I
turn on the faucet,
watching these little troublemakers
disappear out-of-sight.

But, quess what?
With the air conditioner
cooling down my kitchen
It’s VERY comfortable in here
so they invite their cousins,
uncles, aunties, and distant kin
to spend the week.

Yippers! Some might think
they’re kind of cute
because we only have to deal with
them a couple of months out of the year.
Well, others become distraught
trying to salt and pepper their tail,
some try Terro,
others use Tempo
and circle outside perimeters
of the house.
I even get out the tough
20 Mule Boraxide Team
Yet, to no avail.

Can’t you just see them
laughing at my funny little
schemes, smiling from ear to ear
It’s really quite humorous
when I think I’m ahead of the game;
there’s another mobile unit
being deployed on the other
side of the house;
Shoulder to shoulder
and bolder they come.

Could an ant’s wee brain comprehend
that I’m adding sugar to the berry juice–
That today is that momentous day?

“Help me Lord, I pray! I’m not fraught,
maybe a bit overwrought with cherry juice on the boil.”
At that optimum moment
the telephone rings;
someone’s knocking at the door;
And, four out-of-town tourists come to explore.
“Lord, help me I implore.
Get me through this merry-go-round
as we’re at high pitch
and now the jelly juices are
rapidly boiling and spilling down the stove
and on the floor.”

I tell myself, it doesn’t pay to get uptight
over silly ants as I clean up the mess.
For in a short while, just like a cloud
THEY’LL BE GONE!
I won’t even remember
they were here
Nor, will I have to deal with
the little snippets for quite awhile
OR, at least until it’s jelly making time
again next year.