Monarch Butterfly on Monsoon Milkweed

Low-hanging gray clouds press against the dark green canopy of a Chhattisgarh game trail as the last blue light of evening settles over the landscape. A monarch butterfly rests on the broad, waxy leaves of a milkweed plant, its orange and black wings catching the cool reflection from a nearby water source. Rain-slicked surfaces glisten with moisture, and the air appears heavy with the weight of the monsoon season. The insect's delicate legs grip the veined stem while the background dissolves into a soft blur of deep greens and slate grays. One droplet of water rests on the edge of a lower leaf, mirroring the fading sky above.