THE BUTTERFLY

Against the sky
You flickered like shadows across our minds
The pleasure of your uprising
heightened our lasting pleasure in you.
Light glinted on your wings
as you swept from star to star;
You played long and melodiously
in the symphony of the grasses.

You found your way
by the light of the languishing boughs
Playing hide-and-seek through the sunbeams
and search-lights of the sun
Dodging the cannon-fire and shell-bursts
of seeds and burning leaves.

You paused as we watched breathless
then flew to the next flower
and all the world sighed at your going.