Maine Air Force

Big blues are the heavy bombers
that make patrols
back-and-forth, back-and-forth
over water.

Small dragonflies are the fighters,
bodies painted gold
with flashing gold
on their wings.

Both love the sun, 
but the fighters are not long fliers,
are not as strong,
but faster, more nimble,
more grace.

They do quick takeoffs and landings, 
but never meet
in the air, on a bush or the ground.

All flights are punctiliously neat,
even as they eat,
carnivorous as wolves in their labor.

The difference from wolves is the wings
and the way they shine,
metallic as planes in the sun:
individually self-sufficient.