Dragonfly

The brief imperturbable glinting
poised on the merest tip of branch or weed or fishing rod
serves as the nearest framework
for wishing

the tentative motion from footed to winged intent,
fragilely executed,
shall outlive the seeming persistents:
pigeon and gull,

or young of the osprey: the adaptive, the murderous.
So small a machine of perpetual balance
should succeed in its use of sun against instinct
and talon.