Caterpillar

A row of white and yellow teeth
drips blood along each side;
red-rimmed ovals simulate eyes.
It shadow-boxes air, rears
to display six spur-feet
matched with spiked tail.
Level again: a critical slash
across four lines trying to net
the flight of butterflies.
I stroke cool, resistant flesh,
curve the page where it clings
as to a leaf in the wind.
Later, a green rippling towards
light—an inch-long dragon
promenades in the margins.
abandons, travels to meet,
its future image.