Dragonfly

A healthy dose of skepticism have.
Would I believe the insects would obey?
That you would enter into covenant.
With them whose consciousness is dubious?
As I walked toward the Greenbelt for a hike,
thought of mosquitoes living in Peru
with whom you bargained and had made a deal:
if they would never bite, you would not kill.

Like random drones, the dragonflies through air.
They were quite large. This kind are hard to catch.
I tried before, occasions multiple.
For kids, one time I purchased special nets.
Some jars and chemicals, pins, mounting board.
Collection large, together that we made.

One fly flew different manner from the rest.
Was falling through the air, more motion made.
Sometimes flew up, but mostly downward path.
At last it fell. Upon the ground, I saw,
like helicopter that turned upside down.
Upon its back, was still and grasped in legs,
a smaller dragonfly that was its prey.
The focused hunter, legs, half-dozen grasped.
Fight to the death, the outcome was assured.
The captured’s desperate movements, urgency.

The ethics, entomology I think
it’s place in science is legitimate.
My interest solely in aesthetic arts.
A study for a child may justify
the killing jar, but doesn’t so for me.
My curiosity regards design.
Take pictures rather than live specimens.

When I picked up this hunting dragonfly,
held gently by the tail but prey escaped.
With prey released, sat perfectly on hand.
Demeanor calm. (Of course I held his tail.)
A perfect perch, I looked into his eyes.
Great domes, the million lenses all in blur.
Some conscious interaction did occur.
Released his tail and to the sky he flew.
I begged forgiveness that I lost his meal.
My curiosity to satisfy.
He will go tell the horseflies of my act.
They are the ones with whom I must agree.
The horses bite, the dragons eat themselves.