damaged Goods

Damaged Goods

In summer sun’s sagacious rays
A butterfly with ragged wings
Settled on the sidewalk
In search of food or rest or other things
Slow, strolling steps brought me to her side that day

Her wings were slowly yawning to and fro
I saw the ragged edges marred
A predator had tried to take her life
She got away but bore the scars
Now she flies erratically, and slow

But ah, her colors shimmered so!
Blue purer than the air
In the sun, sparkled like a million atom stars
Yellow so shy it was hardly there
Emerald splashed like strokes by Michelangelo

They froze my gait
And captured my eyes
’Til I was lost in a universe
Of delicate size
And majestic fate

I held my breath
My throat grew tight
I fell in love
With the spirit’s fight
To live beyond its brush with death

Feelings tumbled from my breast
If I could only paste a part of my soul
On her wing to repair its ragged loss
I gladly would, to make her whole
Who more than measure, she had blessed
But hope and want rarely comply
With harsh reality
Or the step of time
Nor can beauty cure insanity Or heart enfold a butterfly

So I stood entranced by her beauty there
And caught the spirit of her bravery
Though torn and damaged goods
She was the loveliest butterfly I shall ever see Her injury made her only all the more fair

She could not have known how much I cared
We both were bound by destiny
The moment passed as moments do
And then she flew away from me
Fluttering and stumbling through the air