On the Sunday before Mardi Gras,
the street were overtaken by a
gorgeous swarm of insects-
The Krewe of Eris!
This convivial promenade of bugs and beetles
reminded me of The Butterfly Ball,

both the poem by William Roscoe, written in 1802,
and the marvelous children’s book
illustrated by the inimitable Alan Aldridge.

Come take up your Hats, and away let us haste
Calamity Jonnycakes appeared by the wayside
as a strangely holy Our Lady of the Chelsea Hotel, Mme. Nico, non?

To the Butterfly’s Ball, and the Grasshopper’s Feast.
Thomas Little is a genius!
His grub costume was everyone’s favorite.

The Trumpeter, Gad-fly, has summon’d the Krewe-
A lovely band of victorian termite streetwalkers
to accompany an incredible termite queen puppet-
their lanterns lit up to show shadows of giant
insects teeming within..

And the Revels are now only waiting for you.

Then the Grasshopper came with a Jerk and a Spring-
Colin constructed his costume from wood scraps,
palm fronds and a flowerpot. Amazing!

Very long was his Leg, though but short was his Wing..

And there was the Gnat and the Dragon-fly too,
I love Miss O. aka ladybabymiss

With all their Relations, Green, Orange, and Blue.
Drew explodes my brain, again.

And there came the Moth, with his Plumage of Down,
Alix, feverishly swooning beauty luna mothman..

And the Hornet in Jacket of Yellow and Brown;
The Admirable Admiral Chris Lane

Saw the Children of Earth, and the Tenants of Air,

Beautiful jewel-beetle, Miss Raven escorted
by her spidery husband J. Microshard

For an Evening’s Amusement together repair!

An abandoned bug at the parade’s end..
For more interesting Eris photos,
check out Kristoff Capa’s work.
Next, Krewe du Poux (a wee bit)
and Mardi Gras Day!