This October Day

Desert Cloudywing Skipper  on Turk's Cap, October 2024

 

A flicker, a flight

a flash of obsidian

this October day

 

* I was sitting outside this afternoon and saw this small skipper making the rounds against the back fence. It's the first time I've ever seen one like it. After some research, she could be migrating. It's always exciting to see something for the first time. 

Boldness

Vine Sphinx Moth, September 2024
Corpus Christi, Texas

 

What boldness it takes

to show up as yourself in

the full light of day

* A surprise guest in my mother's back garden- the exquisite vine sphinx moth. We checked back after it got dark and she was still there. A first sighting for all of us!

Side by Side

Silver spotted skipper butterfly, September 2024
Raleigh Durham, North Carolina

     

Walking side by side

I find happiness with you --

hope you find it too

* A few weeks ago, my daughter took me to all her favorite places in Raleigh Durham. While out and about we stopped to admire this butterfly drinking nectar from the snapdragons. It was a moment of pure happiness. 

In Silence

Tersa Sphinx Moth, September 2024

 

Look with careful eyes

veined wings hidden in veined leaves

meet you in silence

* What a terrific thing to spot a Tersa Sphinx moth on the back porch yesterday. It looked like a brown leaf that was out of place among all the green leaves. The moth perched in that spot through the day, unmoving, and was gone by morning. I love seeing things for the first time. 

Pause at the back gate

Blooming Sky Vine and Back Gate, September 2024

Lost in a pale bloom

intent on gathering what

sustains her for flight

 

Unknown Butterfly in Sky Vine, September 2024

* Last night I spend several minutes watching this small butterfly gather nectar from the blue sky vine flower. She was oblivious to my presence, nestled deep inside the blossom. So tiny, I almost missed her. 

One Thousand

Gulf Fritillary on Shrimp Plant, August 2024

One thousand moments,

gifts delivered day by day

to my waiting heart

*Today marks my 1,000th post. One thousand days I have been visited by a gentle and gracious Presence in the world. One thousand times I snapped a photo and counted syllables for a haiku or offered a prayer or blessing. If you are reading this, thank you for being part of my passion project, my healing project. May it be a blessing. 

 

Fearfully and wonderfully made

Black Swallowtail, August 2024

Farewell confinement

each detail of your new form

is pure perfection

 

Irresistible

 

Hackberry Emperor Butterfly, July 2024
Photo by Bryan Jody, College Station

Suspended in grace

you are irresistible

with light in your wings 

One second, maybe two

Brazilian Skipper, June 2024

 

We meet eye to eye

for one second, maybe two

in the golden hour 

This present moment

Spicebush Swallowtail, June 2024

 

This present moment
holds all I need and wish for

and quite a bit more

I hope

Buckeye on Coneflower, June 2024

 

The song of summer

plays again in my garden

and I hope, in yours

In her joy

Orange Skipper on Cone Flower, June 2024

 

The call has gone out

June in her joy has set a

mighty fine table

Love

 

Monarch on Fennel, June 2024

May every corner of your heart be filled with God's radiant love.

* A beautiful monarch emerged from her chrysalis just minutes before this photo. She is about to take her first flight around the backyard and over the fence. She was the last of 10 caterpillars we brought inside to foster through their transformation. I never tire of seeing new life right before my eyes.

A daytime sighting

Harrisina Moth, June 2024

 

Most unusual...

a daytime sighting of one

who lives by moonlight 

Sabbth

Silver Hairstreak Butterfly, June 2024

 

Rest your silver wings

for one breath - and another

before taking flight

 

Closer

Variegated Fritillary, November 2023
  

Our wide sweeping world

keeps drawing us in, drawing

us ever closer

(and out again)

A message of love

Question Mark Butterfly, July 2023

I read in your wings

a message of love in flight

just outside my door

 * A Question Mark Butterfly has made herself at home on our front porch. I stepped outside and she landed on the hem of my shorts and stayed there for several minutes before taking off again. Question Marks are notoriously fluttery - I've tried several times to get a good photo and today was the day. I love how the white outline of her wings shows well against the navy. 

Instead

 

Tawny Emperor, June 2023
College Station, Texas

We could have kept sorting laundry

     and folded towels straight out of the dryer

Instead we played cards at the kitchen table

    without keeping score

We could have kept stacking old papers

    and stirring up dust

Instead we drove to the cafe for sandwiches

    and rose mint matcha 

We could have revisited old arguments

    and the way things go wrong sometimes

Instead we stepped out on the back porch

     led into wonder by golden butterflies 

* I spent the day with my daughter Karly, and the poem is my reflection of our time together. Always grateful for time with my girl. We spotted a kaleidoscope of Tawny Emperor butterflies just off the back porch. 

    

Eastern Black Swallowtail

Meet our Sunday guest

we follow her flight path from 

 flower to flower

 

* When the heat and stillness settle in the afternoon, that's the time butterflies tend to appear in the back yard. What a gift to spot her enjoying the society garlic. She made several circuits through the yard, unbothered by our presence. 

Lucky me

Mourning Cloak Butterfly, April 2023
Pecos Benedictine Monastery, Pecos NM

Lucky me to see

from the corner of my eye

the flash of your wing