First Place

A Sapphire in the Moonlight

It glows bright

sapphire in the moonlight.

It’s exoskeleton

a protective armor, a shell

that encases it’s tiny heart.

It dances on the sand

of this barren, moonlit land

back and forth

side to side

with two glowing pincers poised

to strike.

It dances with me on the dunes

glinting in the cool moon

and it’s blue barbed tail

waves in unison

with me.

I’m caught

in this sapphire’s dance.