On a leaf I espied
a ladybug,
daintily it crawled.
And watching,
I smiled
at such a pretty sight
nowadays a rare sight.
But then I realized
ladybugs I see these days
have colors dull, almost lifeless,
unlike the vibrant brilliance
of the ladybugs we played with
in the corn fields of my childhood.
Is it the ladybugs really?
Or is it just my mind
playing tricks on me?

Eric S.B. Libre
13 March 2021