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Necrophilia

A poem by
Sebastian Shaw

Lepidopterist
Why do you want
To catch it?
I picture you
In a sun helmet
Hot with excitement
Poising your net
Where the flowers grow
About to have it
Because you must.

For God's sake
Not that one -
Not that particular
One! You can pin
Another nearly as nice
To your collection
And have the satisfaction
Of a spectacular
Slef sacrifice
For at least a week.

But already
It's out of the net
And into the bottle.
Were you afraid
To let it settle
For life?  It could not
Of course have stayed.
But to leave it living
Would not be loving
A dead body.