Book IX: Raven

when the sun is high
there is only darkness
as the trees cry murder

the skies cry murder

the valley cries foul
as the darkness descends
in screech and skitter

a brainy battalion
a gregarious gang
a shadowy shroud

a murderous mass

the darkness descends
to consume the refuse
that life left behind

Book VIII: Chipmunk

scampering away
a streak of white, a flash of gold
looting

looted

loaded
puffed up
puffed out
forthright
out of sight

there's no law
the fight is on
the guard is off

it's just sitting there

for the taking
the stashing
the hoarding

one's own indulgences
indulgently looting

indulgently looted
a ghost of gold, a wisp of white
scampered away

Book VII: Ant

Lug
Haul
Carry away

The supply chain counts on you.

Unsecured convoys
march in file
march to stay
alive.

You march
in file
to keep
a promise

to logistics
to demand
to supply
a queen
a society

a whole world under

a front
lawn.

Lug
Haul
Carry up the hill

The world counts on you.

Book VI: Dove

Squeak squeak squeak
you're not exactly stealthy.
The others might give you something to lament.

But you're not depressed.
You're wide awake.
You know what they're up to.

They're up to nothing
to sadden you.

It's hard to be sad
when nobody's after you.
It's easy to squeak squeak squeak
when the others listen
through deep-set eyes.

So you will squeak with a flutter
bringing sorrow to our eyes

slyly mourning objector
of the subdivision.