The Passion of the Microbe

[DonSchaeffer]

Forward
without fear the
armless, faceless thing
throws itself, blessed with courage.
If there is fear, it defines life,
pellmell, tossing itself forward
in battle against death.
It must know
the nature of death
but fear does not deter it.
Swimming in life,
pressed in a mass of it.
How many minutes does it have
before it submits?