Her colors were faded and her wings were tattered, but the simple beauty and elegance of this mature female Needham’s Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula needhami) were still very much in evidence when I encountered her on Wednesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In fact, the coppery-gold veins near the leading edges of her wings seemed to glow from the inside with a radiant light.
So often our society tells us that we should equate beauty with a youthful appearance, but I would argue that beauty can be found at all ages. Beauty for me is not so much about matching up to some standard of perfection—it can be found in the midst of all of our wrinkles, scars, and blemishes. Our uniqueness as individuals in and of itself makes us beautiful if you look closely and deeply enough.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That coppery sheen is attractive, and not something I’ve seen on a dragonfly.
I like the light on the wings.
Well said and beautiful image.
Yes, there is beauty in everything, we just have to notice them. Whenever I see dragonflies, I think of your post.
Stunning image – and thank you for the perspective on beauty spanning beyond youth and “perfection” – in this case, the wing edge tatters (irregularities) strike me as added allure.
Thanks, Jazz. There is certainly a tale to to be told of the experiences that lead to the tatters. My postings are often reflective of my mood when I was composing them and I guess I was feeling a bit philosophical this morning–perhaps all of the recent information leading up to today’s commemoration of the 9-11 attacks unconsciously having me thinking about the fragility of life.
As I read your beautifully written words and gazed upon the lovely dragonfly photo that captures her fading glory, I could not help but think of these words:
I Am Not Old
I am not old, she said, I am rare.
I am the standing ovation at the end of the play.
I am the retrospective of my life as art.
I am the hours connected like dots into good sense.
I am the fulness of existing.
You think that I am waiting to die but I am waiting to be found.
I am a treasure, I am a map, these wrinkles are imprints of my journey.
Ask me anything. – Samantha Reynolds.
Thank-you, Mr. Mike!
Thanks so much, Ellen, for sharing those wonderful words–so poignant and so appropriate. I was really struck by the line, You think that I am waiting to die but I am waiting to be found…” Wow!
Mike great photo. Your words prompt a poem:
New beauty unfurls
Between every line, a necklace
Of strength and honor.
Thank you for a great inspiring share.
Thanks so much, Suzette. You have such a beautiful way of capturing the essence of my images in a minimum number of wonderfully poetic words.
Thank you Mike! For the inspiration.
Very nice Mike! I agree with your statement in the last paragraph!
Thanks, Reed. I went off on a little philosophical tangent in this post–I never quite know what I am going to say about. photo until the time comes to post it and then I let my mood kind of dictate the direction in which I will go.
Nice image and thoughts, Mike!
Wonderful image and message ❤
Thanks, Laura
Mike, hi there! ~is it ok if I use this image in a post soon? This tattered beauty is lovely and I’ll include the neat quote that Ellen shared, as well as a pic of a leaf skeleton that I’m hopefully getting permission for from twitter. Cheers.
Putting my hand up again as I doubt you’ve seen my message? Or perhaps you don’t want me to use the image? Pls confirm.. ta much!
I must be really distracted recently, because I just noticed that there are a number of comments that I missed and not just yours. Sorry.
Yikes. Not sure how I missed this request. Sorry it took so long to respond. You are definitely welcome to use the photo.
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