Nothing marks the beginning of spring quite like ant home invasions. On March 27, 2021, an ant crawling across my primary computer monitor caught my attention. When I saw that ant, I knew that spring had truly arrived. Inspired, I wrote a tanka about the ant and published it here at The New Leaf Journal.

Illustrtaion of two ants dancing witha number of other animals from "Friends in Feathers and Fur, and Other Neighbors" on Project Gutenberg.
Clipped from “Friends in Feathers and Fur, and Other Neighbors” on Project Gutenberg. The image came with the following caption: “‘We’ll dance all night,’ Cried the ants with delight.”

On March 23, 2022, I saw the first ant of the year in my apartment – once again crawling across my primary computer monitor (a new monitor, but same location). Inspired again, I set down to record my thoughts in the form of a tanka.

The Ants of the Springtide

Pioneering ant
      Walked across my monitor
That must mean one thing
      Ants invade in the springtime
      I bring tidings of the springtide