Capturing Dragonflies

Capturing Dragonflies

If you catch a dragonfly

And dissect it

To unravel it secrets,

Taking it apart bit by bit

Examine under microscope

Label its parts

Classify it in Latin

Then all you are left with

Is a pile of wet chitin

And some fragments

Of dead-rainbow wings.

I have captured dragonflies

Held them in trembling hands

Gazed into jewelled alien eyes,

Felt the flutter of gauzy wings

And the bite of tiny jaws,

Only to release them later

With wings and mysteries intact.

You learn a lot more than way.