Christmas Beetle
A Christmas Beetle on its back, motionless
I turn the jewelled beast over, legs loosen
and it moves. Wyn places it on the vine
trailing the railing, it tumbles to the next
balcony and Wyn places it in the gardenia pot
and it looks ‘happy’. I think it’s probably dying.
We are worried. Each year there seem to be fewer
and fewer of these Beetles. This is just my second.
Note: ‘Christmas beetle count project: Where have all the Christmas beetles gone? In the past, millions of these large, colourful beetles used to fly around in December and January.’ https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/schools/school-of-life-and-environmental-sciences/research/christmas-beetle-population-project.html
There are 35 species of these large scarab beetles found in Australia. The larvae feed primarily on the roots of native grasses. This one is probably, Anoplognathus narmarus or Anoplognathus macleaya.
Mist
This prow of living space is at sea, sunlight misses us.
The air closes distance to close-quarters,
like the Russian charge at Crimea’s Inkerman.
Silken lace-work spins on a vacant Geebung
adopted by an invisible craft guild trying to make a living
from strands that magnetise water like lichen.
28th, garden
We have planted the Golden Lyre too close to a path,
I have no idea the worst mistake I have ever made,
not doing enough might be one of them.
Spittlebug nymphs, hide inside a beautifully crafted
crystal structure, the symmetry nature works on is amazing,
and the immature froghoppers avoid dehydration.
