A poem by the Dutch poet Joop Leibbrand

Spirit level*

I was just lying outside, thinking of

nothing but myself, one of those bottomless

days when you think could be I’ll

experience not being there any more.

I saw the dragonfly on my foot without

feeling it, its wings lifted the colour

of its own weight, gossamer proof of

god’s existence, the cat ate it every evening.

Then there was the resistance of a simul-

taneous second one, identical. On smooth bearings

the head turned, the small eyes twitched.

My legs tensed up from carrying

so much attention, from so much equi-

librium that you cannot stand outside.

* The Dutch word 'libel' can mean both 'spirit level' and 'dragonfly'.