Familiar whine in my ear You settle on my forearm Prepare to pierce my skin with your proboscis I raise my had to strike Wait! What if I let you complete the cycle? You might feed the songbird Who cheers my day. You larvae might feed the minnow Who feeds the fingerling Who feeds the pike Who feeds me. You might be a meal For the brown bat Whose guano fertilizes Tomatoes for my salad. SMACK! But not today.