Mysterious Stranger

I came upon him suddenly, as he paid me no mind. I mistook him for a humming-bird of a very different kind. He was drinking long and deeply from a flower in my garden. I gazed at him so raptly that I should have begged his pardon. Sated on the delicacy from which he had been sipping, he flew from the friendly feed bag without bothering with tipping. I was still stunned at the wonder of the mystery I’d seen I went inside to Google humming birds on my helpful computer screen. There he is in living color, the picture of the one I saw. Not a bird, he's a humming bird moth, I could only gaze at him with awe. Hemaris thysbe.....his nomenclature, olive color with red tummy band. Why I didn’t know he existed is hard for me to understand. Now that I am primed with knowledge I do hope we meet again. He is only seen on sunny days. Where does he shelter from the rain? I’ll know him next time when I see him and I will be more polite. I’m planting flowers I think he’ll favor. He will be welcome day or night. By: Joyce Johnson For Gail Doyle's contest "A butterfly's Trail of Kisses." ( I hope a beautiful moth qualifies)