The butterflies dance in my sunshine garden
And joy sparkles like innocence
Through my gap-filled smile.
I reach for them
with chubby,
sticky,
clumsy
fingers
(Careful honey, c a r e f u l l y)
But they crumple in my hands
And it’s ruined
Again and again
Always ruined

. They’re . Not . For . Me .

. I . Will . Break . Them .

You step up shyly, and hold out your hand
Timid green eyes
A butterfly perched on your finger
Its wings slowly beating time
With our hearts
And I reach out
But you stop me.

. You . Stop . Me .
(And my heart is healed)

You won’t let me take it.
But you give it to me.
And everything’s different.

Even though it flies away
Away a w a y a w a y
I can still feel its
Tickling
Pattering
Footsteps
on my baby hands

You have to teach me
Again and again
But I never want to hurt your
Butterflies
So help me
Learn to
Let them
. F l y .