He parts Himself like Leaves — Leaf-Butterfly

He parts Himself－like Leaves－¹
And then－He closes up－
Then stands upon the Bonnet
Of Any Buttercup－

And then He runs against ⁵
And oversets a Rose－
And then does Nothing－
Then away upon a Jib－He goes－

And dangles like a Mote ⁹
Suspended in the Noon－
Uncertain－to return Below－
Or settle in the Moon－

What come of Him－at Night－¹³
The privilege to say
Be limited by Ignorance－
What come of Him－That Day－

The Frost－possess the World－¹⁷
In Cabinets－be shown－
A Sepulchre of quaintest Floss－
An Abbey－a Cocoon－

(F.655/J.517)

[1] Leaves:: a hint on leaf-betterfly (OED 1882); the term was used already in 1839. He parts Himself:: a leaf-butterfly changes his outlook from butterfly to leaves.
[2] closes up:: the close of wings makes it like leaves.
[3–18] dangles, limited:: a description of the butterfly's life, and the life of a recluse in camouflage.
[19] Sepulchre of quaintest Floss:: a cocoon.
[20] Abbey, Cocoon:: a hint for us to compare human with leaf-butterfly, seclusion with cocoon.

Some leaf butterflies were caught and brought to me; there are very large and curious,—the back of the wing is like two autumnal leaves laid upon one another. It is said that every month the appearance of the leaf butterfly changes, varying with the leaves. ─ Wanderings of a Pilgrim (1850)

All who have travelled in the Himala Mountains must have remarked with admiration the brilliant array of colours exhibited by the leaf-butterfly, when on the wing; and possibly have watched, with suspended breath, its dazzling flight from tree to tree, and from rock to rock as it has flitted on in zigzag course, striving to elude the pursuit of its insatiate enemy, the fly-catcher; ─ The Monthly Review (1839)