From prehistoric mists...

Dragonflies

Dragonflies from prehistoric mists,

flying around long before the ice ages, above shallow water

in the shade of gigantic trees – their clear blue wings fluttering,

growing deeper, slower, rays still shining on them -

such fragile wings, a thousand years old,

vibrating, like rainbow drops,

in the primeval wind – there were no birds is yet,

just the shade of branches, ferns rustling, just, dug in above

the lush coal swamp, flight till then, intoxicating,

lasting but a moment. 

 ~Judita Vaiciunaite~

(Poem translated from the Lithuanian by Viktoria Skupskelis and Stuart Friebert Literary Review, Fall, 1993)