What do you think about when you hear the word “dasher?” From my early childhood days, the word meant only one thing—it was the name of one of Santa’s reindeer.
Many of us grew up hearing these familiar words from the poem “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (“A Visit From St. Nicholas“) by Clement Clarke Moore:
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”
So, every time I see a Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis), like this beautiful male that I photographed this weekend, I can’t help but have a little thought of Christmas, even on the hottest days of summer.
But Santa, some may complain, didn’t have a blue Dasher. That’s true, of course, but Elvis had no problem singing of a Blue Christmas, the perfect setting for a Blue Dasher. (Click here to watch a You Tube video of Elvis singing this signature tune.)
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I was expecting a picture of a reindeer. I love the details of the wings. It’s such a cool geometric pattern.
You have the same memory association that I have with the word “dasher.” I love the color combination of the Blue Dasher and the find the wings of all dragonflies to be fascinating.
That’s a really artistic shot, Mike.
Thanks, Sue. There is a definite part of me that yearns to be creative and I am finding that photography serves as a really good outlet for my creative impulses (both in writing as well as in photos).
That’s a fantastic shot. I love the color of these dragonflies. The background color really helps it pop.
The word dasher makes me think of that poem too. In fact I can’t think of another instance where I’ve heard the word used.
Thanks. I’m searching my mind and can’t come up with another usage of the word “dasher” either. Blue Dashers are among the most common dragonflies at my local marsh and it’s relatively easy to get a shot of one, because they like to perch. Still, I find them their blue coloration to be so attractive that I rarely pass up an opportunity to take their picture.