August dried me up with the oregano
after the torrents of spring

only bloodsuckers touched my skin
leaving among other things
a heart-shaped scab near my elbow

somewhere in a pocket of my cloak of misery
I keep
snapshots from this summer of my discontent

iridescence of summer insects
lost feathers in the grass
the smile on the face of a bright flight-goggled dragonfly
a halo of white petals on an unknown weed
soft black corduroy of a bumblebee's backside
a tiny crown of gold dust on the black eye of a flower
tender white-furred bellies of squirrels nursing sunflower seeds from the birdfeeders
the gentle seeming aimlessness of a fritillary's silken wings
the small song of my beloved fat tigerling snoring at my knees

moments of happiness
like bright beads strung together
on a dark decaying thread

like a butterfly in the rain
the passage is difficult
and not straight
but sometimes there is beauty

by Sara, copyright 2002, all rights reserved