Baby Love has Passed Away

Even though cockroaches have outlived whatever big thing killed all the dinosaurs, and even though they can apparently survive nuclear war (click here to see the levels of radiation that they can withstand), I've managed to kill one of my pet cockroaches.

Baby Love was found dead yesterday evening, near the dry cat food he was apparently consuming at the time. It had been noted by his owner that he hadn't moved, but she attributed this to sluggishness caused by the cold weather and natural roach behaviour.

Baby Love was the smallest of the three male cockroaches comprising his colony. He is survived by his tank-mates, Sugar Pie and Honey Bunch.

And so let us mourn the passing of this bright-spirited roach.

Yet once more, O ye laurels, and once more,
Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere,
I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude,
And with forced fingers rude
Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year.
Bitter constraint, and sad occasion dear,
Compels me to disturb your season due;
For Baby Love is dead, dead ere his prime,
Young Baby Love, and hath not left his peer....

John Milton, Lycidas (with alterations)