Sally Richards

Emperor Dragonfly

Pirate nymph
stalking the watery underworld
ready to strike
unsuspecting victims:
small fish, water snails,
falling foul of your extendable jaws

from beast to beauty
rising from depths
to morph on a lily stalk
till pumped-up
you emerge
magnificent.

Predator on the wing, scooting along,
devouring all smaller than yourself.
Winged crusader,
monstrous mini-beast, defending your domain –
youth versus maturity,
challenging all adversaries
in dog-fights
some to the death.

Capturing maidens,
ruthlessly grabbed by your claspers,
for urgent mating
before time runs out
on your roguish antics.
Life cut short
after ten manic days
on the wing.

Sally Richards © 2008