The Mariposa Lily

THE MARIPOSA LILY
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Insect or blossom? Fragile, fairy thing,
Poised upon tender slip, and quivering
To flight! a flower of the fields of air;
A jeweled moth; a butterfly, with rare
And tender tints upon his downy wing,
A moment resting in our happy sight;
A flower held captive by a thread so slight
Its petal-wings of broidered gossamer
Are, light as the wind, with every wind astir-
Wafting sweet odor, faint and exquisite
O dainty nursling of the field and sky,
What fairer thing looks up to heaven’s blue
And drink the noontide sun, the dawning’s dew,
Thou winged bloom! thou blossom-butterfly?
-Ina D Coolbrith