the red ant

My hands
Rip at the weeds
Pulling the roots out,
As whole as possible.
Digging
open
the wounded soil,
Turning the earth over and over,
Preparing for a new day
I dominate my domain.
One red ant,
Instinctive in courage,
Climbs to my wrist
And clings hard with his jaw,
With a bite of rebellion
And self defense.
I crush him
quickly.
Yet for days
His legacy remains;
Prophetically reminding me
Of those whose lives and homes
I just destroyed
In order to grow.