Hydrangeas move as if on a breeze.
A breeze of bees moving flower to flower
across lime green, blue and pink.
Across ruby red and native plants
their flowers do a pretty dance.
On this hot, dry day I watch bees play.
But, where have the butterflies gone?
They did not appear this year.
The yard is awash in colorful blooms
In past years butterflies found plenty of room
to feast and sleep a moment or two.
Butterfly bushes and butterfly weeds,
native plants and other species
await their return in sad revery.
I ask everyone I know,
“have you seen a butterfly this year?”
The answer is always a baffled, “No.”
Where did all the butterflies go?
And, will they ever return ?
Who knows? Like lovers spurned,
they may have found another garden
to replace my own.
I can only hope so, as I mourn
a topsy-survey world grown too warm.
annarino writes 