Ode to a Mayfly

The mayfly is one of Earth's creatures that can live as little as thirty minutes.

Sometimes half of any hour is all he has,

And he of all creatures is happy,

To find a mate to live to feed,

No bank account for him,

 

No corporate greed

 

O Mayfly! Must you be so noble?,

Carrying out your rituals in late spring,

Even the dove or the gnat,

The shrew,

 

Is utterly envious of your wing

 

Perhaps inside your minute head,

Every moment is a bliss,

You fly and bathe

and misbehave,

 

With not one relative to miss

 

Softly after the day ends,

And all your duties complete,

The wind carries you down

Onto a patchy leaf,

 

To rest those weary little feet