Celestial Embroidery
A butterfly’s wings are celestial embroidery
torn from above
and scattered carelessly by
the flower girl who maybe isn’t ready for all that responsibility.
They were, for an instant, the universe
but have since seen the serrated forearms of mantises and chattering beaks of kestrels.
But they’ve also seen mutation, wielded as adaptation
for new wings to take flight.
If a butterfly caught a direct flight to a new meadow, remote jungle, or city park, they’d see an alien and smell an imposter
but they’d feel wing beats in unison.
A butterfly’s wings are celestial embroidery
constellations unclouded as the world takes its toll
abductor muscles contract down through the thorax
as the cosmos drift across a meadow.
As the butterfly grows ancient, its cadence slows.
When you awake from a dream with a thud of your heart returning to your chest
the butterfly gives you
for a moment
the privilege to witness
the universe.
