They had always been there

a part of the scenery

of wetlands, lakes, and swamps

escaping my notice . . .

the flash of wings creating a backdrop

for the whole picture of natural waters

Then one day I began to look

a host of details revealed

a myriad of colors, shapes, and forms

tiny damsels in red, green, and blue

skimmers darting from perches

prunose bodies on clear or spotted wings

cruisers, emeralds, and darners

incessantly patrolling in flight

Amazed that I’d missed this spectacle

whole years spent in ignorance

not seeing the trees for the forest

awakened, I had found

that sometimes the joy of new discovery

rides on dragonfly wings