Dawn with empty cup, 13 May 2020

It's getting colder, with whisps of smoke from hazard burning. There's still next summer's fire season to prepare for. The little figure from Pompei crouched as the ashes fell, and the shape of the body was preserved as an absence in the tufa as it solidified. I heard of two people retrenched today, one in construction, one in travel. The universities are in dire straits. But while walking around the garden this morning, absently pulling a few weeds, a Wanderer butterfly landed on my arm and remained, waving its black antennae, its body patterned with white spots on velvety black, closed wings petalled with orange. This alighting must be a rare chance, a sign to accept with wonder that there are unknown marvels out there.

Diana Wood Conroy 'Dawn with empty cup' watercolour on Arches paper 15 x 21 cm, 13 May 2020