Monday, October 15, 2012

THE KILLING SIZE


Size does matter…
When it comes to what I'll kill.
Let me explain.
I don’t mind killing…
Little things…
Like eeeny weeny ants…
When they're in my cupboard...
Or even a little bit larger ants.
But as the bugs get bigger…
My conscience kicks in.
I don’t know why I think…
Killing a fly is more OK…
Than killing a big beetle or grasshopper.
And killing a beautiful butterfly…
Seems like a crime against nature.
Why? Because it's beautiful?
So is killing something ugly OK?
And I don't mind snatching a weed out...
But the thought of cutting down a tree? No.
The other day…
A tarantula wandered into my  unfinished house…
Before I discovered it…
The workers killed it…
Its body was in pieces…
Hairy legs strewn everywhere…
And, if you can believe it…
(me, who has spiderphobia)
I actually felt sorry for it.
If it had been the size of a knat…
I wouldn’t have cared.
But this tarantula was big enough to be a pet.
And now I’m wondering….
If living things are equally special…
And I’m not talking about an animal ready to kill you…
Shouldn't killing a mouse...
Feel as bad as…
Killing an elephant?
So?
When killing living things…
What size matters to you?


Always, Em-Musing

8 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The only things I kill in my house are ants and roaches. (And for the latter, the bigger they are, the faster they are crushed.) I do think about the bugs though and usually catch and release everything.

Sarah said...

Hmmm... I don't know. I'm more likely to let a tiny spider walk away, but if a large spider invades my home, I am probably going to unleash the vacuum cleaner on it. And I'm not merciful with mice, either, because of the damage they do. Killing something straight up, though, is not pleasant.

Gossip_Grl said...

Ewww on the tarantula. :/ I hate bugs and even more since the stink bug invasion. :( Sorry! I swear stink bugs are kin to the roach. They are disgusting alive and more obnoxious when you smash them. I leave the butterflies and dragon flies alone though! Great Post!

Lydia Kang said...

This is deep, philosophical stuff. I mean, how do we decide what deserves to live or die? Are we allowed to decide at all? Seriously. It's so complicated.

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Eeep. I don't think I'd like a huge tarantula as a pet.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I'd feel bad for the tarantula, too. My cousin used to have one as a pet and he was fascinating.

Anne Gallagher said...

I usually throw spiders outside but we had a HUGE one in the hallway outside the bedroom one night and I was just too tired, and actually quite scared to try to pick him up with a shoebox so I squished him. I did waffle over the decision for at least 20 minutes, and I was very upset after I did it. But I didn't know what kind it was and I didn't want it finding a hidey hole in my sock drawer. Besides, the Monster was petrified. I guess if it could hurt my child, it has to die. No matter what size it is.

Adam said...

Ironically as a vegetarian, I've got nothing against destroying swarms of insects.