Beauty up close

 

We ran after them in the sun

armed with nylon fishing nets,

green ones,

then followed them into the long grass,

amongst the hollyhocks laughing

shouting, swaying

fast after them

until we bagged one

by powdery coloured wing,

placed it with care in a jam jar

lined with dock leaves

tied a circle

of greaseproof paper on top

and punched some holes in,

hard,

with an old fork;

then watched beauty up close,

for as long as it lasted.