termites

we are the tectonic organic architects.
fixed action patterns, no masterplan
predisposed destruction
genetic construction.
we are the wrecking ball
and the engineers.

bees are greek geometers,
bodies as rulers, hexagons in their heads.
we the pallid homewreckers
with magnets instead. north of capricorn
use our clay skyscrapers
as compasses

but we will destroy your home
to build our own.
we are Vishnu and Shiva,
no arms, six legs
world-best-practice fungus
farmers

we’ve thrown away the plans.
each buttressed edifice with aircon, heating,
unique.
form is function,
function, form hyperbolic paraboloid,
hyperboloid, helicoid

straight lines are anathema
the shortest span between two points is
follow the guy ahead
we know no Pythagoras or Euclid,
give a passing nod to the Bauhaus
and gaudy Gaudi who plagiarized
our best.

rob walker, 2014

(This was first published as a poem in Australian Poetry Journal, 4.1, July 2014.)