The Iridescent Hummingbird: Our Favorite Picks: Dragonflies

Dragonfly: Odonata Epiprocta Anisoptera. An insect characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body.[1]

A bit mysterious, quiet, and a little eerie in appearance, the dragonfly has been the subject of many different forms of art throughout the passage of time. Its physical appearance draws visual interest; it is an usual looking member of the insect family. The dragonfly's elongated torso flanked with large, transparent wings and large eyes makes this creature look imbalanced but yet it travels about with ease and grace. Its attention seeking vibrant and often iridescent colors captures our interest as it flies by while hunting a tasty mosquito dinner.

Flying Dragonfly Tabletop Fountain

By Art Matters

The dragonfly represents power and poise. This may be derived from its amazing physical skill. It has the ability to move in all six directions. Moving at a rate of 45 miles an hour, the dragonfly can hover like a helicopter, fly backwards like a hummingbird, fly straight up, down and on either side. It can do this while flapping its wings 30 times a minute, while mosquitoes and houseflies need to flap their wings 600 and 1000 times a minute respectively. The dragonfly has 20 times as much power in each of its wing strokes when compared to other insects. It is no wonder why the Samurai use the dragonfly to symbolize power, agility and victory.[2]

Entomophobics, fear not. Dragonflies are harmless to humans. In fact, they are beneficial insects, preying on the insects that pester mankind such as mosquitoes and flies. They also help keep the bee and ant population in check.

Strong, agile, and helpful. Beautiful, timid, and graceful. The dragonfly is a creature that is loved, admired, and immortalized in art (a small, minuscule fraction of which has been compiled below. Enjoy!)

___________________________________

Dragonfly Lantern

By Achla

___________________________________

(Excerpted from The White Company)

“Clouds of insects danced and buzzed in the golden autumn light, and the air was full of the piping of the song-birds. Long, glinting dragonflies shot across the path, or hung tremulous with gauzy wings and gleaming bodies.”

~ Arthur Conan Doyle, Sr.

___________________________________

"Dragonfly In Night: Necklace, Design No. One"

(Black onyx art glass, chocolate suede cording)

By Artist Linda M. Lee

___________________________________

Pond Surface

Gossamer on wind

Wings flit taking unseen paths

Dragonfly flies by

~A haiku by Taomaster Frank

___________________________________

Japanese folk song "Red Dragonfly"

(From the album "Water of Life")

By Insight In Sound

___________________________________

The Dragon-fly

Today I saw the dragon-fly

Come from the wells where he did lie.

An inner impulse rent the veil

Of his old husk: from head to tail

Came out clear plates of sapphire mail.

He dried his wings: like gauze they grew;

Thro' crofts and pastures wet with dew

A living flash of light he flew.

In its eyes are mirrored

far-off-mountains

Dragonfly!

~Alfred Lord Tennyson

___________________________________

"Dragonfly In Night: Necklace, Design No. Two"
(Rose quartz & Swarovski crystal handcrafted pendant and necklace)
By Artist Linda M. Lee

___________________________________

Short Story: Dragonfly

Once, in a little pond, in the muddy water under the lily pads, there lived a little water beetle in a community of water beetles. They lived a simple and comfortable life in the pond with few disturbances and interruptions. Once in a while, sadness would come to the community when one of their fellow beetles would climb the stem of a lily pad and would never be seen again. They knew when this happened; their friend was dead, gone forever.

Then, one day, one little water beetle felt an irresistible urge to climb up that stem. However, he was determined that he would not leave forever. He would come back and tell his friends what he had found at the top. When he reached the top and climbed out of the water onto the surface of the lily pad, he was so tired, and the sun felt so warm, that he decided he must take a nap. As he slept, his body changed and when he woke up, he had turned into a beautiful blue-tailed dragonfly with broad wings and a slender body designed for flying.

So, fly he did! And, as he soared he saw the beauty of a whole new world and a far superior way of life to what he had never known existed. Then he remembered his beetle friends and how they were thinking by now he was dead. He wanted to go back to tell them, and explain to them that he was now more alive than he had ever been before. His life had been fulfilled rather than ended. But, his new body would not go down into the water. He could not get back to tell his friends the good news. Then he understood that their time would come, when they, too, would know what he now knew. So, he raised his wings and flew off into his joyous new life!

~Author Unknown

___________________________________

"Dragonfly In Night: Phone / Purse Pendant"
(Swarovski crystal & black onyx art glass)
By Artist Linda M. Lee

___________________________________

A Dragonfly

Your delicate wings rapidly beat the air

The sleekness of your weightless body hovers

Curiously observing as though you care

Steadily searching for lifelong endeavors

Do you bring a message of a tranquil destiny?

Does your evolving maturity convey wisdom?

If I follow, will I find harmony or perplexity?

As you disappear… I am serenely lonesome

~Theresa Ann Moore

___________________________________

Techie dragonfly
(8GB USB Flash Drive Pendant)

___________________________________

Dragonfly, Dragonfly

Dragonfly, dragonfly,

Please don't pass me by

Wait with me a little while

Whilst I look, wonder and smile

You, my poetic inspiration

Maybe even for Da Vinci's invention

Did you teach the planes to fly?

You lovely, lovely dragonfly.

I can see you poised and still

On the leaf, and thus until

Blazes the kind summer sun

Until coldest winter has begun.

Branch,pond, flower and breeze,

Wait a while with me now please;

We shared the silence, but now

You've flown onto another bough.

~Rani Turton

___________________________________

Dragonfly Oasis Plates

By CNI Designs

___________________________________

Dragonfly; For I Follow

Your colors glisten, promoting your beauty

Your wings; prosperous and gentle, alike

I want to catch, capture, hold onto; forever

I seek you day and night, always by your side

Heart stills with your absence

~ Gregory Reed

___________________________________

Tiffany Dragonfly Auto Stick Umbrella
By Galleria

___________________________________

Silent Noon

Your hands lie open in the long fresh grass,

The finger-points look through like rosy blooms:

Your eyes smile peace. The pasture gleams and glooms

'Neath billowing skies that scatter and amass.

All round our nest, far as the eye can pass,

Are golden kingcup-fields with silver edge

Where the cow-parsley skirts the hawthorn-hedge.

'Tis visible silence, still as the hour-glass.

Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragon-fly

Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky:

So this wing'd hour is dropt to us from above.

Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower,

This close-companioned inarticulate hour

When twofold silence was the song of love.