Like a Cricket Infestation

Welcome home. The annual cricket infestation
has hit the courthouse. They vacuumed my office…
three times…today. I know they scare people,
annoy others, cause a worry about health,
create paranoia about taking off shoes…
and putting them on. But they’re just crickets.
Millions and billions of crickets, but just crickets.
Like problems. Irritations. People on your nerves,
tasks you hate to do. Like crickets. What can you do?
Systematically get rid of them. With a vacuum…
or meditation. Relax and know you can’t control,
that you have no say, that they will be gone again
in a few weeks that can seem like ages.
But like a person who gets on your nerves
it’s not your problem. See you your own street side.
Make them an object lesson. Let each one
instead of causing disgust be a reason to name a joy,
a chance to realize those are always abundant,
not just periodically, not in only the fall but every day.
Be grateful for those people who lend a hand,
who walk the halls with vacuums, who cover holes,
who help the situation. Surrender. There will be crickets.
This year, next year. It’s not your problem.
Stick to the things that are.

IMAG0648