Butterfly

As a butterfly
Flutters its wings,
Stretching the gossamer threads
Ready to take flight.

A wind blows,
The butterfly strays,
Too small to resist,
Swept away by a force
Greater than itself.

Taking its bearings,
It tries to return to the path.
Slight and fragile,
Refusing to give up.

It succeeds,
Then fails at the next disturbance,
Straying once more.

The butterfly is beautiful
And very brief,
Fragile yet determined.
It continues on regardless,
For a month,
Before tragedy strikes,
Oblivious to beauty.

It shrivels and dies,
And more butterflies
Are born.