The Entomologist's Dream

African Glass Blue, Cinnabar Moth
Fiery Copper lie in glass chambers.
Desiccated wings ache into movement.
Antennae twitch, exoskeletens tremble,

pierced thoraxes gulp agonising
breaths of sequestered air.
The collector dreams thin, creaking ice.
A summer storm bursts the sticky night;

shatters butterfly boxes open.
Proboscises kiss night-sweat
from the man's forehead.
Revived Painted Lady

and Camberwell Beauty jeté
towards the open window.
Mimicry eyes mock him:
the Koh-i-Noor of his collection

settles on the spreading board.
Clammy hands cupped
he leap-frogs! She pirouettes
into the night

her rainforest calling.
Rolling towards him
potassium cyanide stirs
inside the killing bottle.