SYSTEMA NATURAE

The green beetle grades the grass-blade,
Millimetre by millimetre.
Guides the gaze,
Upwards and out,
To the tree.
To species,
Through synonym,
Through genotype,
To genus. To family,
To super family,
To order.
To class,
To phylum,
To kingdom.
To life.
Dizzied,
The eye descends,
To the powdered, granulated, emerald weevil,
Its antennae waving,
Its elytra bright.
All learning is little,
And therefore dangerous.
There is so much to be grasped.

Alasdair Aston,