I found a dead ladybug in the sink
after washing a head of lettuce
the red had faded to peach
and the legs no longer reached for life
~
Standing in the school playground
during a warm fall afternoon
a bright red bug with black spots
lands on my arm
I can feel its little legs trembling
as it shimmies along my forearm
slowly turning my hand over
when it reaches the wrist
~
I hope that ladybug landed
on as many hands as possible
as a harbinger of joy
simply with its presence