A Measuring Worm

This yellow striped green
Caterpillar, climbing up
The steep window screen,

Constantly (for lack
Of a full set of legs) keeps
Humping up his back.


It's as if he sent
By a sort of semaphore
Dark omegas meant

To warn of Last Things.
Although he doesn't know it
He will soon have wings.

And I, too, don't know
Toward what undreamt condition
Inch by inch I go.

Richard Wilbur
The New Yorker

This guy was eating my tomato plants. He's history.