Papilionis

They look so pretty catching the light
shimmering colours shifting colours
shining -
They look so fragile in the breeze
trembling twitching in air
yet -
They are strong.
strong enough to carry through days
of flight from one end of the world to
another
strong enough to carry through winds and
bad weather from one end of the world to
another
But if you tried to crush them I think
you probably would.
look weak act strong but if pushed too hard they
break -
Like some people I know.

Completed December 10, 2001. First place in R.H. King Library Poetry contest.

Apparently the judges gushed all over this piece, but at the time I was annoyed because I didn't think it was as "clever" as some of the others I submitted. This was the only one I wrote in one sitting without too much thought.