Sternocera Aequisignata

A poem for America

Sternocera Aequisignata

Unlike abalone
your iridescence 
is on the outside
first thought to attract
a mate or tell predators 
of your poison now 
we understand it
as a form of camouflage
like the stars 
or the opalescence
of a pearl necklace 
around a goddess’s
neck distracting 
the universe
and all its children
from the dark
especially the boy 
in the bleachers 
who’s cupped
a jewel beetle
in his hands believing 
it to be a druzy foil 
that shook free
sprouted wings 
and flew back to 
the planet where 
there’s nothing to fear 
except everything 
that’s beautiful.