Saturated with New Color - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

Seemingly wet, alive
dripping, overflowing
saturated with new color
each flower giving, sharing
pouring out, into the wings
more than painted
much more than reflected
dripping with living color
transferred in the instant
the moment it lowered
landing on each bloom
momentarily truly different
infused, permeated, dripping
immersed in the liquid color
the wings of the morning
the butterfly more than a canvas
living color moving
from flower to flower
alive and enduring
in my memory

July 12, 2010
I was really struck by how saturated the wings of the butterfly were by these colors, from the flowers it landed on, not just as if it was reflected onto the outside of the wing but as if it was infused into the wing itself, changing its very color for the moments in time it stayed on each flower.
----------------
Infused with Their Color

The yellow swallowtail
elegant butterfly moving
dancing on the humid air
flitting to the garden

Coming to alight, resting
perching on each flower
as if standing on the skin of water
the sun shining brightly
on every bloom, alive

Infused with their color
yellow of the zinnia,
pumpkin of the marigold,
the blaze of the lily

The color painted, saturated,
in shimmering reflection
living canvas of its wings
aglow, singing your praises,
the creator of all there is.

July 9, 2010
our backyard
Suncook, NH
Pembroke, NH
July 9, 2010

Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.