The sun beat down on an early afternoon
as a bright grasshopper lay baking on the dark pavement,
enjoying the warmth.
You step outside of the sliding screen door
into the blazing heat.
Down at your feet you see the insect
sitting still, unmoved by your intrusive arrival.
With no thought, you step forward,
spreading your shadow over the bug and feel it
crunch under your foot as you easily
burst its exoskeleton and turn it to an
unidentifiable smear of yellows and greens.

You continue walking,
quickly forgetting the creature
as each step grinds the stain off
the bottom of your shoe.