Poem: Alteration

 

Alteration

 

mourning cloak

on daybreak gravel,

 

royal in the lithe of light,

indispensable,

 

pebbles now precious,

perch for the supernal

 

flaunt.

 

no other moment

of my lean, grey stride

 

to be touched by such

inexpressible wings:

 

rich purple

aureate, depthless,

 

none of me,

beyond this lucky token,

 

ever to measure

such a life.

==================================

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphalis_antiopa

1/17 ... "lithe of light" replaces "lithe light"