Butterfly Catcher

October 22nd, 2005

I just bought a brand new net.
Cost me a pretty penny, but I don’t mind.
It’s worth every cent if I can catch that beautiful butterfly.

She has wings made of sunshine.
Flying by, my night becomes day;
My eyes can see again.

The butterfly doesn’t know that I’m trying to catch her.
She lives her life in a simple way.
Everyday is beautiful.

She carries with her the smell of flowers.
I was at an art show and knew that I smelled her,
But it was just some girl with nice perfume.

Sometimes I love just to be in the field with my new net.
Even the thought of her flying by
Lifts my heart and fills me with hope.

Maybe she’ll land on my head;
Attracted to the shine of my pate.
Then I’m sure I could trap her and keep her for good.

The little butterfly dances when I see her.
Air twinkles around her fluttering wings.
She is aware only that life is love.

I know that if I can catch her, I’ll be happy.
I won’t have to hunt anymore.
I’ll pin her to a board and look at her now and then.

Even though she flies free,
I think of her as mine already.
This is MY butterfly.

MY butterfly doesn’t worry about food
Or rent money or the height of fashion.
MY butterfly knows that all things are as they should be.

She is a Zen Master.
She must be mingling with monks and children
On those days when away from me.

This morning when I awoke,
MY butterfly was nowhere to be seen.
I worried that another hunter had captured her.

I remained calm.
I brushed my teeth and sent an email.
I could always find another MY butterfly.

Oh, Joy of all Joy!
She came back this afternoon
And danced for me until evening!

But she has flown away again
With a wave of her wings.
That say, “Let’s do this again sometime”.

Perhaps tomorrow
The day will bring her dance and me the chance
To live in the light of the world with this beautiful butterfly.

Entry Filed under: Poetry