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.
