Robert Hedin

Robert Hedin was born in 1949 in Redwing, Minnesota, where he grew up. He received degrees from Luther College in Iowa, and the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. A translator and editor of anthologies as well as a

Monarchs, Viceroys, Swallowtails

by Robert Hedin (b. 1949)

1<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
2<author>
3  <person id="14756" sex="1" role="author">
4    <name>
5      <firstname>Robert</firstname>
6      <lastname>Hedin</lastname>
7    </name>
8    <life-events>
9      <text-value>(b. 1949)</text-value>
10    </life-events>
11    <biography>y</biography>
12  </person>
13</author>
14

For years they came tacking in, full sail,
Riding the light down through the trees,
Over the rooftops, and not just monarchs,
But viceroys, swallowtails, so many
They became unremarkable, showing up
As they did whether we noticed them or not,
Swooping and fanning out at the bright
Margins of the day. So how did we know
Until it was too late, until they quit coming,

Click here for complete poem