another / another / another find 
cicadas left behind their carapace clutch  
re-iterate evidence 
that something clung in darkness 
while skin split 
without thought 
releasing
hundreds of bodies that knew -
escape must
be endured 
their unquestioned cyclical living 
persistent until leaving was possible

to harvest the shells of cicada ghosts
my grip must be light / unnoticeable
 
fragile is close / endearing
it crackles at my finger tips
intricate singing of useless beauty

I detach the grip of abandoned protection 
from bark of trees
 
nothing
remains
but light 

a crisp chuckle in soft hand
a last laugh / life sighing

poem by Jo Mariner / for life cycle of cicada see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada