" Measuring Up " ...

" Measuring Up "

by Suzán Jiván
Mom &Mom-
Mom Suzán

Measuring up as a such-and-such
while keeping in touch no matter what
" Did you get the memo? "
like a slightly apologetic " in-betweenie "
missing link pointing out paucity
patchy and incomplete

exhibiting weaknesses
plucking out theories
deemed big possibilities
using clawed fore-limbs
evolving into wings
considered to be a big feat

venomously non-lethal
as the oddest thing
getting ready to sing
being kept in stitches
still in transition
written in Greek
rather than Latin

earthbound
underground
safe-and-sound
sweet 'n' fatty
queens of ants

wild forests grasslands
intensely managed farmland
family trees forming canopies
hundreds and thousands of fields
and pastures leaves termites and beetles

entomology small crawly things
unusual peculiarities biting stinging
vectors of diseases beeswax silk and shellac
valuable scavengers beautiful animals

scarab-backed reproductive capacity
introductory chapters how-to structured habits
flattened laterally sucking mouths
widening thoraxes forked tails wings overlapping...