That which thou perceivest where mem’ries fly
Born of the winged dragon’s transcendent flame
Thy youth before thee torn from azure sky
Rough winds did blow and time n’er be the same
Send me a sign of thy soul’s divine love
Setting ablaze such gladness long denied
Sweet sorrow’d Icarus sing from above
For stout gusts blow and fury’s muse hath cried
Doff such sadness dearest jewel in flight
Be not still for aches of heart do liveth
Within my breast doth pain’d rage fill the night
Visit this place where dreams do light giveth
Oh horse with wings sent from heaven above;
Set hearts aglow with thy unending love.
Dragonflies mean many things to many people around the world. Heaven sent or portend of evil. Even some believe that if you catch a dragonfly you will marry within a year. In this sonnet it speaks of profound respect for this messenger from Heaven connecting us to the energy and life of a loved one gone before us. In Asia, dragonflies represent good fortune, and in Japanese haiku poetry, it represents strength and happiness. Even one name for Japan is “The Island of the Dragonfly” because it is curved in a shape resembling a dragonfly at rest. Buddhist stories speak of ancestors’ spirits’ visiting loved ones as they ride on their wings or them being the insect themselves. In Native American cultures, the dragonfly can symbolize change, speed. and illusion. In nature, dragonflies have their place to rid us of pesty mosquitoes and gnats. In the end, the dragonfly is precious to us and many hold colors not of this world. These messengers bring joy and peace to those who are willing to listen.
(Dedicated to the memory of Christopher C. Newton)