THE CENTER FOR HUMAN-EARTH RESTORATION
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Vinson O. Williams, Raleigh, NC

"Kaleidoscope"

I tiptoe through the branches,
Summertime, and munch on the leaves.
Developing from my fragile form,
I eat, and grow, and shed.

Eat, eat, eat;
My stripes become more defined
And I am no longer confused with others.
Of yellow, white, and black, they thicken
As my awkward antennae sprout

I am finding my way.
I use my silk more, intently but tenderly grasping,
Gaining stability in this quick world.
I can feel my green pap grow,
This skin strangles my maturation,
It holds me back.

Molt, Molt, Molt;
My layers fall away, friable,
More defined than the last.
I see it coming: my formative brown branch.
Fast approaching, I must shed my last,
And be encased in my hard shell,
And change one final time.

I am joining the Kaleidoscope
My orange aerial brethren and begin.
I am still and vulnerable, insect in vitro,
Wait for me,
And we can paint the blue together.
I am so close, insect in vitro.
I am almost ready, insect in glass.

The curious child waltzes over;
What is this?
They pluck my chrysalis,
Not yet black and orange, but green and opaque.
I am not safe.

My life is fragile, it always has been;
It never was in my hands;
Water, wind, birds, predators
The tumult of the nature outside

My umbilical is severed
Uninterested, I descend from the careless palm.
The others grow, while I do not.

I lay on the damp ground, stunted.
Black and orange they emerge.

My glass is cracked, Kaleidoscope, I am trying.

Please wait for me?
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  • Home
  • About Us
    • Who are we? >
      • Meet the Staff
      • Our Helping Hands
      • Board of Directors
      • Collaborative Partners
    • What Do We Do? >
      • Our Newsletter: The Restoration Report
      • Mission
      • Guiding Principles
      • History
      • Recognition & Achievements
  • Programs
    • Adult Programs >
      • Women In Nature
      • Professional Development for Educators
      • Earth Elderevolution
    • Children/Young Adult Programs >
      • Summer Camp Wind Eagle
      • Track-Out Camps
      • Neighborhood Ecology Corps
      • The CORES Project
  • Get Involved
    • Support C.H.E.R.'s mission
    • Big sweep
    • Summer Internships
    • THE GODDESS PROJECT
  • Remembering Ross
    • About Ross
    • Ross L. Andrews Poetry Contest >
      • Last Year's Winning Poems
      • Previous Winning Poems >
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
  • Media
    • NCEE Blog - Educator Spotlight
    • Making Peace With Bugs: PBS Special on C.H.E.R.
    • Memories of Times Gone By: Articles about C.H.E.R.
    • Suburban Living Magazine
    • C.H.E.R.'s Youtube Channel
  • Links
  • Contact Us
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