Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Your ancient soul

is ever becoming

something other.

You begin as egg,

hatch to water nymph,

give up gills, leave the larval shell behind

for air and light and sun.

You transform again and again.

You warm your wings.

You dance on air

in sudden, shocking beauty,

elegant and iridescent.

Jewelled, precious creature,

you warm your cold blood

in the light

and become the light.

You scatter and refract;

you become the rainbow.

Your head, all eyes,

sees in every direction

except

behind you,

where winter and death

are stalking.

Yet, you refuse them.

You live.

You know

your shimmering self

will be reborn,

again and again

to walk the water,

to dance the air,

to feed from the wind.

Words and photos are ©copyright Carol Steel.