he killed roaches
for a living
big, juicy suckers
they didn't mind it so much
the killing
they were multitudinous
in number
and not
endangered
in the slightest
the poison was
sweet to the taste
and left one
feeling warm
in the belly and inebriated
and serene
he was well known
to them
this gangly murderer
he mumbled
and smoked cigarettes
and his footfalls
resounded pleasantly
he was not a
violent man
by nature
nevertheless,
he delivered death
like chinese take-out
ambivalently
he surveyed his
work
he flicked a
carcass across
the floorboards
with his fingers
and then stood up
and dropped
a yellow invoice
on the counter
near the
microwave oven
he was hungry
and had decided
to stop by the
polish deli
on the corner
the coffee
was lousy,
but the pierogies
were excellent.
