By Wesley Houp
Clear the red oak deadfall
at the head of North Harris trail,
then wander off down South Harris,
through thick cedars darkening the east
and a narrow glade giving the sky
a squint at the limestone flooring.
Find the chambered cave
someone had enticed me with
several years ago but offered
vague details of its location.
Well here it is, located squarely
in the earth. The southwest slope
is covered in Tipularia discolor,
the cranefly orchid
that takes its Latin name
from Tipuladae, known locally as
the gallinipper, the slow, clumsy
summerfly that bounces up
and down windowpanes
and reminds us to breathe in
slowly the summer air,
the autumn air.
Craneflies cling to the roof
of the cave even still,
their wings sapphired
with mineral condensation.
This afternoon, they might find
a shaft of sunlight to circle.
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