Poem 290: North Bay’s Annual Event

I ran into this swarm three weeks ago to be exact

Not knowing if I was safe or under attack

They seemed to be everywhere that I went

Sometimes totally surrounding me and causing torment

I just chose to shun them and continue on my way

Ignoring their advances each and every day

It started with just a few but their numbers seemed to increase

No matter where I ventured the harassment would never cease

They seemed to be building and occupying more space

I even seen a few of them hanging out near my place

I was determined to ignore them and not change my course

With each passing day it just seemed to go from bad to worse

Just trying to dismiss them was becoming a strain

But I continued to persevere time and time again

The word was getting out and people were avoiding this area altogether

I seldom ran into anyone even in the best of weather

Friends that I always ran into while I was down there

This area had become a ghost town, there was no one anywhere

The swarm became so thick they were now under your feet

I continued on valiantly, not giving in to defeat

I walked through the parks and inhaled all that stench

The numbers were alarming and you dared not try to sit on a bench

Last week I noticed that their numbers were whittling down

There seemed to be less of their appearances all over town

With their numbers diminishing, they were less of a threat

There was never anything to worry about and there’s no need to fret

I have been going through this cycle my whole life

Even though they still bother my daughters and wife

The shadflies that invade our area are a good sign

We should become concerned if they begin to decline

Those of you that have been worried and were feeling faint hearted

It’s time to return to downtown and the waterfront, the shadflies have departed