Edit 3: On Actias

[alonso ramoran]

On Actias

Your wings are greener 
than the faraway willow tree in spring, adorned 
with tails, lissome as a sundown shaft of light,  
to elude a starlit maw. I glow alike  
 
and yet you come to me. Is it because I have no mouth  
to devour you, let alone to speak these words? 
 
If I did, I'd only ask you stay 
to the wall you're settled on. Do not draw too close 
like so many of the grey-winged ones who tap my skin
until they go up in flares of light and dust. 
 
Get away. 
            Get away. 
Get away. 
 
You singed your wings 
and morning's here. 

Edit 2: I Dream Moths

Your wings are greener 
than the faraway willow tree in spring, adorned 
with tails, lissome as a sundown shaft of light,  
that help you elude a starlit maw. I glow alike  
 
and still you come to me. Is it because I have no mouth  
to devour you, let alone to speak these words? 
 
If I did, I'd only tell you— 
stay to the wall you're settled on. Do not draw too close 
like so many of the grey-winged ones who tap my skin until 
they go up in flares of light and dust. 
 
Get away. 
            Get away. 
Get away. 
 
You've singed your wings 
and morning's here. 


Edit 1: On Actias Somnium 
 
Your wings are greener 
than the faraway willow tree in spring, adorned 
with tails as lissome as a sundown shaft of light, 
only more elusive of a starlit maw. I glow alike 
 
and still you came to me. Is it because I have no mouth  
to devour you, let alone to speak these words? 
 
If I did, I'd only tell you— 
stay to the wall you're settled on. Do not draw too close 
like so many of the grey-winged ones who tap my skin until 
they go up in flares of light and dust. 
 
Get away. 
            Get away. 
Get away. 
 
You singed your wings 
and morning's here. 


Original: On Actias Somnium

I found your wings, greener 
than the faraway willow tree in spring, adorned 
with tips as lissome as a sundown shaft of light, 
only more evasive of a starlit maw. I glow alike 
 
and you come to me. Is it because I have no mouth  
to devour with, let alone speak these words? 
 
If I did, I'd only tell you 
to stay on the wall you're perched. Do not draw too close 
like so many of the grey-winged ones who tap my skin until 
they go up in flares of light and dust. 
 
Get away. 
            Get away. 
Get away. 
 
You singe your wings 
and morning came.