Where Does Karma Begin?

By John I. Blair

Every time I nix a bug,
A mental calculus:
What’s my karma standing now?
And will the gods book terms
By size or species?
I do my best

To make amends.
By finch feeding,
Toad tending;
But how can sunflower seeds
Fix a stomped roach
Or hooked worm?

Genocentric arrogance
Pervades my DNA;
Yet we do appear
The only kind that cares
Or counts the cost
When killing’s in the mix.

©2009 John I. Blair