R. J. Bailey
November 8, 2026
Noonday flights of a butterfly,
Erratic flits from low to high,
Then rests upon a zinnia's lip,
To brave once more the fervid sky.
From xylem sap cicadas sip,
And honeydew from ant-cows drip.
Katydids sing with jagged wings,
While blade to blade the hoppers skip.
The scorching Texas weather brings
A pageant of queer offerings—
As blissful gazes greet each one,
Laud grows for these curious things.
So I'll endure the dog days' sun
Until the summer season's done—
Anticipating autumn fun,
To spy new marvels, one by one.
R. J. Bailey is a formal verse poet and a proud, lifelong native Texan who prefers the landscapes of the Lone Star State to any other place in the world. Writing from a traditionalist perspective, this poetry focuses on capturing the precise rhythms, harsh beauty, and unique natural marvels of the region.
