From Cocoon forth

From Cocoon forth a Butterfly

As Lady from her Door

Emerged - a Summer Afternoon -

Repairing Everywhere -

Without Design - that I could trace

Except to stray abroad

On Miscellaneous Enterprise

The Clovers - understood -

Her pretty Parasol was seen

Contracting in a Field

Where Men made Hay -

Then struggling hard

With an opposing Cloud -

Where Parties - Phantom as Herself -

To Nowhere - seemed to go

In purposeless Circumference,

As 'twere a Tropic Show.

And notwithstanding Bee - that worked -

And Flower - that zealous blew,

This Audience of idleness

Disdained them, from the Sky -

Till Sundown crept - a steady Tide -

And Men that made the Hay -

And Afternoon - and Butterfly -

Extinguished - in its Sea.