B is for Butterfly tongue
.
This is a macro photograph of the tip of a butterfly’s proboscis, or tongue. Who could imagine it? It was taken by Stephen S Nagy, and won the 2011 Nikon Small World Micrography Competition. Exquisite or what?
.
The Butterfly’s Tongue
.
A bright-embroidered
path to drink,
.
flanked by gems,
enticing,
pink,
.
a colour promise,
come, take flight,
.
along a line
of golden light,
.
escape your vessel,
taste the sky –
.
nectar
becomes
butterfly!
.
.
Poem © Liz Brownlee
Photograph © Stephen S Nagy
If you would like to blog-hop to the next A-Z Challenge blog, please click here.
If you’d like to read about or buy my book, Animal Magic, full of animal poems and fascinating facts, click here.
- Posted in: A-Z Challenge 2014
- Tagged: animal, art, beauty, Butterfly, macrophotography, photography, poetry, science
lizbrownlee - poet 
No wonder butterfly’s flutter about in such erratic patterns, with their tongue dangling out they can’t take their eyes off it!
LikeLike
So pretty, I love this trend you have started. Can’t wait to read tomorrow. I also am looking at your book. Looks really nice.:)
http://mary-anderingcreatively.blogspot.com
http://maryanderingamongthepages.blogspot.com
LikeLike
Thank you Mary!
LikeLike
Beautiful Liz, got there in the end x
LikeLike
Hooray! Thank you, Sue! The Facebook link is acting up!
LikeLike
Beautiful Liz, as always x
LikeLike
oops thought it hadn’t posted
LikeLike
It doesn’t post your first comment for a while until I have looked at it and have decided you aren’t rude or a spammer! Then all other comments by you get through – so you should be ok now!! Xx
LikeLike
I have seen this photo before and marveled at the beauty of it. Your poem has intensified that feeling. Nicely done!
LikeLike
Thank you, seekingmeme!
LikeLike
Liz, so glad you’ve signed up for the A – Z challenge. Your daily treat is so much better for me than Jaffa Cakes! Wonderful poems, pics and info. x
LikeLike
Aww, thanks, Helen, better than a jaffa cake, I am so PROUD!
LikeLike
Such an amazing photograph–it makes me wonder what a macro photo of a dog’s tongue would look like–and your accompanying poem is lovely. Thank you so much for visiting my blog today. I look forward to following you through the alphabet. 🙂
LikeLike
Ditto, Miss Harper Lee!
LikeLike
Beautiful photo and poem. I love that you can see the ‘seam’ where the two halves of the proboscis ‘zip’ together after the butterfly has emerged.
I have shared this on the FB group for my fellow NHM Butterfly House workers/volunteers (and butterfly enthusiasts) to see and read.
We only remembered the A-Z Challenge last night and missed the official sign-up…. We’re still blogging unofficially though 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks! Please post your link at TB – Steve reminded me by a thread, otherwise I’d have forgotten as well!
LikeLike
O.O do what?!?!?! (Love the poem)
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
LOVE IT!
LikeLike
Thank you Bette!
LikeLike