Today we induct into
the Hall of Heroes a
cabbage white, its
wingspan little wider
than a half-dollar, an
artifact you may or
may not remember: cool
in the palm, serrated
edges, the sharply
embossed portrait of
a young president
whose life would likewise
be truncated
by the weather
of the world.
(On the coin, he still shines.)
Today we induct into
the Hall of Heroes
this delicate being,
susceptible to the slightest
violence, who faithfully
flies, flutters, floats,
to what tired blossoms
remain, its compound
eyes noting the headlong
approach of multiple
oblivions, yet winging
on, stitching the cooling
air without pause
or complaint, as if
it were spring —
fields of new nectar,
warming sun,
sheltering leaves —
the brief arc of its
small life an everyday
profile in courage.
Meditatio Ephemera 
I second the motion! Into the Hall of Unsung Heroes, of which there are too many to count. -Russ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Great poem to start the day. Did the poem develop naturally as written; the half dollar selected as a size indicator or were they two ideas developed separately and later combined? I’m just nosey today! That’s a good thing, right? Thanks for the poem. Leo
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Leo! I was considering how to describe the size of a cabbage white in a relatable way, and while I’m not sure a half-dollar is relatable to younger generations, it is to ours. And then, I considered JFK’s “Profiles in Courage,” so there was a nice commonality there — again, at least for a certain generation. Thank you for reading and commenting!
LikeLiked by 1 person