Jack Fitzgerald

Butterflies

No, I\'ve never writ of butterflies-
pretty things that flit about the flowers.
I\'ve often thought to catch so dear a prize,
but then found better use for fleeting hours.

They won\'t be caught and if caught can\'t be kept
unless their hunter\'s more than passing cruel.
So, watch them, watch each flower they\'ve o\'er leapt...
then watch their sick pursuers, each a fool.

For if caught, then, what then? Forever trapped?
Those tender wings would break in any hand,
they\'ll batter \'gainst their bars till will\'s full sapped.
The corpse of what once flew has no demand.

Hold anything to tightly and it dies,
but no, I\'ve never writ of butterflies.