Cicada emergence

Entomologists (bug people) put a fine point on bug relations.  Cicadas are the focus this year.  Much has been written about the seventeen year emergence due, oh, long about now.  I wondered where they were.  It  seems the great Illinois emergence won*t happen until 2024.  The cicadas emerging this year are the East Coast variety.  Who knew?  Not me.  For more info (by IL entomologists), go here:  http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cicadas/13or17year.html

Entomologists question

Which brood of cicadas

Is related to which.

It seems cicadas emerge

In different parts of the country

At different times.

They wait underground

To emerge

Periodically.

I have been waiting

Here in Illinois

For the seventeen year emergence

Which now it seems

Will occur

In 2024.

Meanwhile

On the East Coast

Cicadas climb out of the ground

In clusters,

Acres of cicadas.

Here

We wait

Until the giant emergence

Slated for 2024.

Entomologists question

Who is related to who,

What is related to what,

Which is related to which.

We have always questioned

Such things.

Cicadas

Or not.

Morning crickets

Sitting in my writing chair this morning it seemed the crickets would be asleep by now.  I think of them singing at night.  They seem to think this morning needs accompaniment.  Of course maybe they do this most mornings and I simply haven*t noticed.  One of the many things I didn*t notice before.  I*ve heard people comment on how loud the cicadas were this year.  I wonder if we only think they*re louder because somehow other years we weren*t paying attention.  Maybe crickets always sing on August summer mornings, but I only listen to them, really, at night, as I lie in bed, windows open..  There*s usually more to do during the day than listen to crickets, or grasshoppers.  Cicadas, of course, demand attention.

Full morning light and the crickets

Still sing.

I thought they only sang

In the dark,

When no one could see,

In private

To the stars.

Seven lines into this,

They stop.

Really

At 8:21 AM,

They stop

Period.

They must have sensed me

Listening.

Then 8:22 AM,

They start

Again.

They may as well

Because

I won*t stop listening.

Full light and they still sing

No matter who can see

No matter who is awake

No matter that the stars

Have completely disappeared

And the sun is already

In full morning shine.