Draw a line

 Draw a line

Gentle creatures fly from flower to flower,

Hate the greed of man, money and power.

An abundance of butterflies now in decline

The time has come now to draw a line.

 

A Comma, Clouded Yellow and Ringlet

They are so very delicate

Seen all of these in just one day -

An afternoon on a Saturday!

 

I've met a male and female Fritillary

So very handsome - so very pretty!

A Brimstone or yellow that would not pose

For a photo and could not get close!

 

Fluttered by a Marbled White

Gorgeous both on land and flight.

The silver-brown Purple Hairstreak

So enthralled I could not speak!

 

Playing in the warmer air

Red Admirals found almost anywhere!

They like the nettles and rotting fruit;

Though to see one now is in dispute.

 

Enchanting, captivating, these dainty things;

Many intricacies on their fragile wings.

Flies by so fast, the colour so vivid

Disappearing fast, feeling sad and livid.

 

I did not see an Orange-tip

But a Fritillary crawled on my fingertip!

A magical moment I will treasure;

That hot afternoon was such a pleasure!

 

Meadow Browns and many Gatekeepers

So near to those tiny delicate creatures

Crept in close, less than one metre

So overwhelmed just had to meet her!

 

His majesty, the purple one high in the trees

The sun, the heat, the gentle breeze;

Day dreamt about them since childhood

And there they were, in the woods!

 

In the meadow, near the river

Essex, small and larger Skipper

And almost by something supernatural,

A bush full of flitting beauties - White Admirals.

 

I saw no Peacocks or Tortoiseshells

The common ones we knew so well

Caterpillars on bushes of Privet and lilac

Wanting them to make a comeback.

Copyright Linda Lawrence

17th July 2021