Dung Beetle

Be kind to me, a mess. I represent
persistence--in the 
dirty thing;
things larger than me
I do not fear.

Whatever you think, or like--
I live. Oh, 
marvel!

Pushing up the hill--
rolling around.
I feel myself at work.

You are larger than I think,
and that is very comforting to me.

From The Little Field of Self by Doreen Gildroy. Copyright © 2002 by Doreen Gildroy. Reprinted by permission of the University of Chicago Press. All rights reserved.