A mourning cloak on a cool morning
on a walk through the cemetery.
It is quiet but for whispered prayers.
She touches a headstone in the sun.
Her yellow skirt escaping the dark cloak.
Nymphalis antiopa, the mourning cloak, is a large butterfly native to Eurasia and North America. The immature form of this species is sometimes known as the spiny elm caterpillar which has a toxic substance in its hairs or spines that can cause a very painful reaction if you touch it,
These butterflies have a lifespan of 11 to 12 months, one of the longest lifespans for any butterfly.
Writing the Day 