THE RETURN OF THE ACID QUEEN.....

The flickering of lights
Seen late at night
Hover above the marshy ground
The will-o-wisps
Combust into mist
As they rise without a sound
The crickets legs click
Consuming air.....thick

The toads and frogs are
Sheltered in logs....

Drowning frogs croaks....
Within dark....mossy oaks....

And the moonlight ripples
Shadows of light
Upon the charcoal lake...
The dragonflies skim across the water
Trying to cautiously brake.
Resting their wings....
For a second....or two....
Then set forth once again
Out of view...nothing new?

While a  tawny owl  takes full flight
Beneath the hazy beams of moonlight
Slowly......soaring......
Gracefully.... gliding.....
Yet if something seemed different tonight..
You'd be right!
The guiding moons rays
Have led her astray
Playfully.... she prepares her prey
A pair...of hare
Lie unaware
Amongst the grassy reeds
Their long ears prick
Their noses twitch
As they graze on nuts and seeds

     Motionless  and still....
          Caught by surprise...

  The owl plunges toward her kill.
         But the preys demise......

Has been paused by fate...

As the marshy grounds quake...
Surrounding the lake
Defenseless trees shake ...
As their feeble limbs break...
Make no mistake
The Queen is awake....!!

The dragonflies have returned upon order
To supersede
Their marauder.....

The Dragonfly Queen
Summons havoc....unforseen
As she bursts through the trees
She screams.....
Her dreams.....

Then venomous skies
Descend from the clouds
Droplets of chaos
Burning holes in the ground
While the dragonflies form
A ring that surrounds
The Queen of disease
Satisfied..feeling pleased
She praises the mantis
Denied of its wings

But his only need was.....
To make her believe
They would bleed...
Full of greed....
Conquer to succeed!!
Yet the next step to achieve
All the evil queens deeds...
Her wants and needs
Plagued with disease.

Then he pleads ....
I must leave!
As your army of thieves...
Are YOUR  puppets with wings!
And their murders  received
Are by no means
Worth all that your promises bring
Then an instant sting
From the Dragonfly Queen
Assures the prayers of the mantis
Will be unheard of...
Or seen.

Carey Milton ©