• Cocoon above! Cocoon below!

    Stealthy Cocoon, why hide you so

    What all the world suspect?

    An hour, and gay on every tree

    Your secret, perched in ecstasy

    Defies imprisonment!


    An hour in Chrysalis to pass,

    Then gay above receding grass

    A Butterfly to go!

    A moment to...

  • 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 be seen

    ...

  • My Cocoon tightens — Colors tease —

    I'm feeling for the Air —

    A dim capacity for Wings

    Demeans the Dress I wear —


    A power of Butterfly must be —

    The Aptitude to fly

    Meadows of Majesty implies

    And easy Sweeps of Sky —


    So I must baffle at the Hint

    And cipher...