Culicidae

Zzzzzzzzzzz--

the electric whine

of a tiny blood-sucking mother

ends abruptly,

halted by a hand

that stares down

at her crumpled body

with unexpected remorse.

Careful fingers

pluck her tiny form from the sheets,

examining her brittle frame

and wondering what pond or puddle

brought her life.

She’s silent now,

segmented limbs still twitching

with the release of calcium stores

or perhaps it’s dying thoughts

(if insects are capable of thoughts)

as her life flashes before her compound eyes.