Friend or Foe?

We had just set up our tent at the quiet edge of Carlyle Lake in Illinois when I noticed a LARGE cloud of insects not far from our site. My heart sank. What did we get ourselves into? I cautiously walked over to check it out fearing I would get attacked. Instead, I watched in utter amazement as the group of insects hovered and swayed, dancing in total unison. How they maintained that unison was beyond me. It looked like a well orchestrated performance.

Needless to say, I was elated to discover that they were nice neighbors that kept to themselves. I was so touched by their beautiful dance that I felt compelled to sketch one and write a poem about them.