Cicadas

Like cicadas in the summer
first found, legs dug in
the underside of leaves. 

The dun curved body, so alien,
so chitinous. Startled, the brain
cries, "insect"

before you remember
(if you even do)
it's only the shell.

I'm up in the trees
vibrating song, green,
iridescent, and alive.

Not this husk you
see, split down its back,
so dead.