The Lovelorn Lepidopterist

 

once upon a time
I saw a butterfly
drifting
floating
flitting
whimsically twinkling
through the brightly hued garden
of life
making me smile
brightening my existence
alighting for but a moment
on each flower in my soul
eclipsing the radiance of each petal
nurturing my wonder
giving pleasure
and
happiness

 * * *

by her very nature
her joy-bringing was ephemeral
but in that brief second
I savoured her magic
her elegance
her effortless grace
and I was lifted by her beauty

 * * *

what a gift she inspired
just by being
what a gift to teach
with no word
the purest of all of life’s lessons
that which you cherish
but for a fragment of an instant
yet
which
enriches for all eternity

 * * *

I held her for that fraction
and
watched the colours fade
too fast
released her
with a smile
with a tear
realised
of a sudden
the saddest lesson
of them all

* * *

 you cannot love a butterfly
by pinning it to a wall