Stupid Gnat Poem by Coty Schwabe

buzzing in front of me,
this annoying creature
with no other purpose
in this
mundane
life
than to provoke.

I stretch my hand out
to catch you,
miss,
then,
swipe again.
succeed.

I crush you within my grasp—
fingers clutching palm.
friction of
a calloused hand
squeezing soft tissue
and guts,
your body barely visible.

a black and red speck
wet with
remains.

what must you have thought
as it happened?

those last few seconds of life
as the world caved in.
the life crushed
out of you
for existing
and serving your purpose
in God's great plan?

a micro-microcosm
of the universe.

for me:
elation at the victory;
mission accomplished.

I have won.
my reward?

silence.

I just took a life—
must I pay the price for it
in the end?

a soul for a soul?

a murderer and the murdered.