The Dragonfly

Wings whirring with frantic energy

he hovers over a placid pool

— created by a fallen trunk

across the creek

He darts towards the other edge

Gleaming, iridescent, cobalt blue

dives on a turquoise adversary

who dared enter his territory

They clash, strike with forelegs

clasp and bite at wings

Turquoise flees, Cobalt gives a

victory run to the boundary

Cobalt shoots backwards, fragile wings whispering

translucent, shimmering, dark patterns

He drops on a fly, eats in a flash

Odonatan, king of his pool

©Lisa Essler 2022