Saying Goodbye to Butterflies

I capture the last few images before 

your migration farther, ever farther south.  

You have rested here; our Texas hospitality 

served for a time, the blue plumbago 

and sunny yellow lantana a perfect 

blossoming backdrop for your wild

and graceful wings. I’ve held out my hand, 

and you’ve landed but found nothing 

as interesting as the roses and lilac petals, 

so off you fluttered to finer displays.  

I settle here each morning and afternoon, 

wait for you to suspend just near enough 

for a photo, and these last few days,

I’ve begun to say goodbye, knowing 

that with the equinox you will be heading 

to new gardens, new blooms, chasing 

the far rising of southern sunshine, 

but I’ll see you again, in the awakening

spring that will come after the 

slumber-time of winter.

—C.L. Fisher, September, 2020

Unless otherwise indicated, all content, including writing and images, are the work of C.L. Fisher and may not be copied, used, or distributed without permission.