It lie there near our planted flowers,
where it passed. Done with all the insect things
a dragonfly must attend to in the brief time it has.
And those wings! Like stained glass panels
still shimmering in the early Fall light!

Our dogs were curious too, but maybe
more interested in the motionless creature’s value
as a snack, or possibly something to play with – ewww!

Deciding to rescue the fallen being,
we hurried it away from curious wet noses;
intending to give it a more dignified resting place.

We dug a small grave in our yard
and placed the remains there, safe
from inquisitive canine noses (and hopefully their paws).

Our dogs, having long since lost interest
in our strange and wasteful human ritual,
looked at us both with expectant eyes,
letting us know it was well past dinner time.