winter

Kaitlin Stack Whitney

his body had changed
that much I could see
rounder, ready for winter - 
moving slower, taking refuge indoors.

cuffing season:  
curled up, in books and walls
and holes in the plaster.
the crumbling mortar flakes
in my hands, his body 
may break the same 
after a cold (warming), wet winter spent inside.

cramped, parched in the forced air,
my cracked lips form no words; we never speak.
spring arrives early (and earlier)  
too late for him, in pieces
I moved him to the sill.

I had a coworker who fed flour beetles
in a jar, on his desk
as a pet or a warning - 
he was (an) Angel after all.
everything is eating,
everything is eaten and overcome.
why not welcome them
before we go.

The Science

This poem is inspired by ladybug overwintering behavior. Ladybugs (Coccinellidae) are a family of beetles. Gardeners often harness ladybugs for biological control of pests, as many kinds of ladybugs are powerful predators. In diapause, a period of dormancy akin to hibernating, they live on their stored fat. Some kinds of ladybugs huddle together in aggregations, such as convergent lady beetles in California, on or under rocks, logs and leaves. Ladybugs often live solitary lives and join these aggregations just for winter. 

Yet sometimes ladybugs make their way inside people's homes. In particular, the introduced harlequin lady beetle is commonly reported to form aggregations on and inside buildings. And while appreciated outside in the garden, these ladybugs are not always welcome or enjoyed if found indoors. Entomologists studying ladybugs, such as Dr Sara Hermann, have reflected on the challenge of fighting misinformation about ladybugs who try to overwinter indoors. While some may not enjoy their presence, they are generally not harmful.

The Poet

Kaitlin Stack Whitney (she/her or they/them) is a professor of environmental and science studies in upstate New York, USA.  She spends a lot of her work time thinking about inclusive futures on a changing planet for both people and nonhuman animals. She shares an office with several ladybugs who have made their way indoors.

Next poem: Bones by Michael Reeks