Blinded Sphinx Moth Caterpillar,

Paonia excaecata

One day I will fly by night,

hornworm turned

hummingbird.

Believe it. But

I was never blind—

you got that wrong.

No one put out my eyes.

I’ve twelve of them. All

I need to see is light and how

it changes. Horned though

I am, I’m innocent

as a unicorn. Soft. Green.

Voracious. Five, six

times I’ll eat enough

to split my skin and crawl

out larger, hungrier.

Be fooled. Be fearful

of me, take my fierce-

looking rear for front.

I am insatiable because

one day I’ll have

no mouth at all.