Monarch Butterfliees

//monarch butterflies

The Monarchs are believed to make a more-
than thousand-mile flight in autumn and spring
from the equator to a particular
tree in the same dim grove where you walk on
duff, under eucalyptus, and cypress

near a broad beach, known for large, sweet clams
since the Indians lived in Pismo Beach
Butterflies fly in about 5 o’clock each day,
flutter to a high branch, find a place,
playing musical chairs
fold their black and orange wings,
attach to the tree among apparent clones,
close to each other as Rose-Parade-float
flowers, a breathing bush you see hanging
in the air. There’s a small sign to tell you,
you’re lucky to see it, yet a stream of tourists
arrive, find the tree, stare at it, mavelling at
the orange and black branch, alive in the air.