the plague

we found madness quickly
requiring no more than a rifle
through the papers on the stairs
overturning the carpet
digging with forks into the wood
it became so easy
the stairs giving way
opened like a birthday cake
and inside, tucked
were a thousand locusts
and a thousand frogs
wearing themselves down with waiting for us
impatient that it took us so long to dig through
so long to think of what could be there
beneath the stairs
and they said to us
now think of what could be in your hands
do you think you've really got bones there?

by Jennifer Zaslow