Roach, foulest of creatures, br who attacks with yellow teeth br and an army of cousins big as shoes, br you are lumps of coal that are mechanized br and when I turn on the light you scuttle br into the corners and there is this hiss upon the land. br Yet I know you are only the common angel br turned into, by way of enchantment, the ugliest. br Your uncle was made into an apple. br Your aunt was made into a Siamese cat, br all the rest were made into butterflies br but because you lied to God outrightly- br told him that all things on earth were in order- br He turned his wrath upon you and said, br I will make you the most loathsome, br I will make you into God's lie, br and never will a little girl fondle you br or hold your dark wings cupped in her palm. br br But that was not true. Once in New Orleans br with a group of students a roach fled across br the floor and I shrieked and she picked it up br in her hands and held it from my fear for one hour. br And held it like a diamond ring that should not escape. br These days even the devil is getting overturned br and held up to the light like a glass of water.