Butterfly

Butterfly

The dainty flutterby of the insect world

A joyous harbinger of flowery days

A veritable zeitgeist of wold,

Wood and drowsy byways.

But watch carefully the innocent

Wavering Gatekeeper, not ill-named;

For this is a small insistent tyrant

With a spirit not to be tamed.

Some grammatical pedantry

Sees this tiny flying sprite,

The unwanted Comma urgently

Remove with the flashing Admiral White.

Such aeronautical dexterity,

Such venomous intent

And honed accuracy

From one so innocent.

He protects his store of briar borne

Nectar in woodland ride

Whilst jealous rivals make airborne

Raids trying to turn the tide.

Brown and sombre with an eye

To ward off potential enemies

Until he rises to the sky

 Fulfilling ancient enmities.

Dave Urmston c 2017