Don’t hold back
The butterfly or show her
The slow worm she was:
Dull Larva, clumsy labor
And chewing bitter fodder
That ran out. Hopeless
She held the bare twig
Knowing
Only,
Finally,
There must be change
She never dreamed
Of a tongue curled and poised
For sweet sipping from bright flowers
Or of wings and every law
Of Nature that she knew
All upside down at dawn
You have seen her
Struggle in the chrysalis
Protected, cheered
Her release
Saw her cling to
Shattered bonds
Watched the slow pulse
Fill her wings.
Soon she will fly to you.
So show her the flowers
On the heights, the edges
Of the precipice but do not
Ask what took so long to know.
Do not take her down
To the damaged plant
She knows too well
The worm she was
Wonders how she
Lived without nectar
But knows that
Bitter leaves
Brought
Wings.