Pest Control

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.