Oh, ants, my sisters, good old honeydew-seekers! From close up you are sticky and shiny and gristly; and your nymphs have parasitic red mites stuck to them. You are too intent upon your chewing and gathering to listen to me, but I tell you that despite my warm feelings I really do not like you, and I cannot feel sorry for you in any way because there are too many of you and you are not cute at all. You eat too much of my forests; you are a rebellious tribe, and I will destroy you; I will poison your nests with sweet-smelling traps.
The speaker expresses a complicated sentiment towards ants, referring to them affectionately as "sisters" and "good old honeydew-seekers." However, upon closer inspection, there is a stark contrast in perception. The ants are described as sticky and gristly, with parasitic mites, creating a sense of disgust rather than endearment. The speaker acknowledges their warm feelings but does so with a strong undercurrent of resentment.
Despite the initial affection, the speaker's dislike for ants is clear. They view the ants as too numerous and unappealing, perceiving them as greedy creatures that consume too much of their forests. This leads to a declaration of intent to exterminate them through poison and traps, highlighting a battle between the speaker's desire to coexist and the aggressive measures planned against the overwhelming ant population.
