Painted Ladies Triolet 2019            for Vilma

Painted Lady butterflies flit like leaflets through the city,
Spell d-e-l-i-c-a-c-y with powdery wings, haul vermilion nonstop,
Hover parking lot, make shoppers with groceries giddy.
Painted Lady butterflies flit like leaflets through the city,
Flutter aileron undersides, turn migration swarms gritty,
Exit freeway ramp, cascade past traffic on northbound hop.
Painted Lady butterflies flit like leaflets through the city,
Spell d-e-l-i-c-a-c-y with powdery wings, haul vermilion nonstop

Laura Stickney



Photograph of Painted Lady Butterfly from SF Weekly