A Garden Beetle's Crawl

I inched fully onto the balcony tiles, letting the outdoor sunshine soak into my back. Just ahead, a wide clay saucer caught beneath a potted fern held a dry sprinkle of potting soil. A little black beetle with polished wing cases was slowly clambering up the curved rim, its tiny legs scratching faintly against the rough baked earth. I lowered my belly flat onto the warm brick, propping my chin upon a smooth gray garden pebble. I watched it pause at the ridge, waving two frail antennae into the soft breeze before continuing its unhurried hike. With a quiet sigh, I kept my place, admiring how steady it traveled.