The Immigrant in My Garden
The earthworm slithers
across the garden's wet cement
in front of the Bird of Paradise
on a Saturday afternoon
after a heavy rainfall
It is hard to imagine that this worm
is a second or third generation
"illegal immigrant"
whose ancestors stowed away to the New World
from South America, Europe or Asia
When I pick him up
he examines the palm of my hand
by bobbing his head
then curves into the same shape
as our large intestine
I try to understand
how far back we go
since scientists say
we're close cousins
when it comes down
to the count of our DNA