Moths - Masters of Camouflage and Mimicry (Part 1)

If I freeze your beauty and wear it on my heart,
I rob Nature, her grace apart; a star dies, so with art.

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog

Art of Camouflage 

Your artful disguise 

makes you invisible and free;  

Nature's given prize
of camouflage and mimicry.

Footprint Moth

If these two sets of footprints

lead to opposite directions, 

did you depart when  I needed you most?

What goodness did I lack?

"My child, you were alone 

and lost and I brought you back."

Kite Moth

It is not only that birds follow the sun

that the sky is filled with colors and laughter;

it is your body symmetry copied for fun,

that children believe they own the sky

and make imagination their best teacher,

even in their dreams to fly.

STOL Moth

If your wings are for short takeoff and speed,

and your long antennae and infrared eyes 

defy the darkness of night, then I believe

someone has copied you in steel that flies. 

Jade Moth

If I freeze your beauty

and wear it on my heart,

I rob Nature, her grace apart; 

a star dies, so with art.

False Eyes

Whose eyes these are, real or just mask?

Why grotesque and cold, the children ask?

Unmoved, you simply sleep and wait 'til dawn,

and they ask again if they were your own.  

Stealth Moth

Man copied you but for another purpose;

peace and quiet you live, his intent is not,

but to rule the sky fiery by day and night; 

cheer up, for imitation will never be right.  

Falcon Moth

You are on the ceiling all alone

and the toad looking up

thinks of you a falcon;

in make-believe it's good to be up

with reverse role as predator;

everything's prey on the floor. 

Hidden Mirror on the Wall

No, it's not Paleolithic painting,

but hidden mirror on the wall:

Bless you creature in slumber waiting 

the light of the world to fall,

then seek a beacon in the night

where a pen draws its might.

Atlas Moth

Thought you could put one on Hercules,*

from the burden of the world you're free; 

so thought too, the dinosaurs in spree;

bigness is no guarantee no less;

birds fly on wings and hollow bones,

flies need not four wings but two,

none but the water strider glides best - 

be humble, bigness is weakness, too.  

* In Greek mythology, Atlas played trick on Hercules to take 

over him carry the globe; but Hercules was smarter, 

and the task fell back on poor Atlas.  

Ghost Moth

From visibility to invincibility;

first, keep low like ice in thaw; 

then, keep shape with the scape, 

wear some spots, add many dots;

last, you're ghost to any host.

Chameleon Moth 

Where comes the trigger I know 

are hormones by signal flow, 

masking colors, painting a view, 

to match a perfect scenario.

Lion Moth

You look like a lion without mane,

and that's why you look tame;

how in the world can you scare 

with your lonely, friendly stare. 

Prominent Moth

(How can you be prominent?)

Who would like you a frass lying still on crust,

feigning inanimate to pass the day in fast. 

Vesper Moth

You, who keep the faithful in vigil,

wearing a white stole over a holy robe - 

would being pious save you long?

Beaks and jaws simply don't care,

much less the order you belong

Tiger Moth

It is the tiger look that you seem respected,

else the mourning signal you send;

but whose view but the cruel beak instead

whose judgment lies your fateful end.  

Tapestry Moth

What you designed, man now claims his own,

yet it was your ancestors' pride before his dawn;

conditionally you gave, for a prize you crave,

by copying his art you may be saved. 

Poison Eater Moth
Moth feeding on the nectar of Lantana (Lantana camara) 
a poisonous and obnoxious plant

What secret have you on hemlock you thrive,

which once robbed the world of a great mind?

Come to where there's li'l left of faith and pride;

bless you little moth, a messenger divine.

Battered Moth

Wings chipped, scales rubbed,

antennae curled, finish scrubbed;

eggs laid, leg cut, coat creased,

grounded, mission accomplished. 

Wood Moth

You look beaten like an old wood,

weathered by rain and tear and sun,

yet full of life and in good mood

like a seasoned timber's stand.

Klan Moth

With robe and hood you come and pause

in dignity, a racist you hide;

reminder of the Fuhrer's cause,

the ignoble Ku Klux Khan's pride;

but if you're a true ambassador,

please bring tidings to every door.

Continued to Part II