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Birth of the Blue Morpheus

In the distance
beyond the low banks of the slow-moving river,
the burgeoning green hills of Belize rise to lap
against the sky's curving shore.
Under the verdant bell of the tall tree,
the plump, leaf-green chrysalis
suspends from a slender twig,
pulsing gently.
Slowly, as the paper thin sides split,
antenna and legs emerge,
delicate as a young girl's eyelashes.
Crumpled silken wings spread themselves to dry
in the filtered sunlight,
gleaming blue on darker blue;
open gently in the shadowed morning air,
essence trembling, yearning
toward the promise of bright flowers
that await the curled tongue's thrust
with honeyed throats.

-- Sue Littleton