*’This Moth With Circled Eyespots…’

This moth
With circled eye-spots –
Nazars that protect from the evil eyes of crows
And beaks of sparrows –
One on each wing
To scare away predators
Thinking: “What BIG eyes you have!
(How big must that mouth be?) ”
“The bigger to see you with! ” the eye-spots answer.
Maybe this is the big bad wolf
In granny’s night gown:
Steer clear!
The insect’s enemies size up
What looks like a blackened eye
“If he looks like this,
What does the other guy look like? ” caution
Of one who can match blood-lust for blood-lust,
And backs away.

This moth
With eye-spots on each wing,
They call it Io.
Eye-O!
That’s perfect.