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The Eye of The Dragonfly

While visiting our pond one day
I saw an awesome sight.
I watched a great, large dragonfly
With wings spread out in flight.

He crossed my path a dozen times;
He seemed to know no fear.
He zigged and zagged and zagged and zigged;
I watched as he came near.

I must have watched an hour or more
Before he flew away.
I watched him leave and called for him
To please come back and play.

He soared away to Grandpa's house.
I chased him as he fled,
'Til soon he darted out of sight
Behind my Grandpa's shed.

Grandpa was sitting on the porch
Just looking at the sky.
He saw me running up the path
After the dragonfly.

I asked my Grandpa if he knew
Of any bug so large.
And Grandpa said to follow him
Back into the Garage.

In boxes big and boxes small
He showed me a delight . . .
More than a hundred insects
With pins holding them tight.

I've never seen a treasure
Of gems or pearls or such,
To make my heart start pounding
Or my hands so want to touch

As when I saw a dragonfly
Just like the one I'd chased,
With long and slender body
And wings made out of lace,

And as I looked more closely
I could not hold back a sigh.
for looking right back at me
Was a single, open eye!

Then Grandpa said,
"Here's how you'll know a Darner, every time.
But that eye that seems wide open
Is actually quite blind.

For with just a spot of color
Nature marked it from the rest,
Knowing that, of all her insects,
This dragonfly is best!"

L.D.Carpenter