A boy leans
over a cast-iron fence.
One hand extends
to a Swan plant, the other
grips a spike for balance.
A monarch butterfly’s
barbed legs wrap around
a stem. Its black-veined wings
are pressed together between
the child’s thumb and finger.
A man approaches and pauses,
he folds his arms. The fact is
once you touch their wings
they’ll never fly again. The boy
does not move. The man does not
leave.
Fingertips part. Wings hinge open
orange and black. The butterfly
lurches out of reach, tacking
against the breeze then glides
easily over a house.
The man frowns,
recognises his shoes
and walks away.
©
1999