Wings of Weeds           for Vilma Mendillo

Butterfly with wings of weeds,

Drills Rooty legs

Into riser seam

Of outside step;

The landed volant's

Fore and hind wings

Are formed out of 

Milk-thistle hackle

And spur.

A butterfly with wings of weeds

Does not flutter

But casts about the city,

As refuse, as surveyor:

Sees--

Elderly women dressed in black,

Forage for dandelion greens

Through patches of scrub,

Near freeway ramp.

Watches--

Young man behind drive-thru,

Cut hair of youth seated in

Swivel chair; both are obscured

By foliage.

Observes--

Lone figure wearing robe,

Crawl up muddy, root-strewn hill

Adjacent major intersection.

Butterfly with wings of weeds,

Colors of blush and tourmaline,

Descends to disturbed median;

Will exude tall stem in summer

Marked with purple flowerheads,

To confer its ancient balm.

Laura Stickney 2025

Notes:

volant--In heraldry, a being depicted

with its wings extended.

tourmaline--a gemstone in colors of 

red and green.

photograph of milk-thistle plant by

Laura Stickney