by Michael Plante

I saw a woman who believed she was rejected by society.
In her attempts to fit in she discarded her principles;
cast them aside to engage in an illusion
and spent the summer chasing something that didn’t exist.

The butterfly floated down from the heavens ever so gently.
Seeking nourishment for its body and soul.
Landing upon a common milkweed the wings of the butterfly slowly opened and closed.
Sequential rhythm, hormonic, in tuned with nature.

Not far from the common milkweed the disillusioned woman sat thinking;
the bruising on her body didn’t need explaining;
the black ring around one eye, and the swollen lip was enough.
Yet it was the bruising on her back the hurt the most.

The sweet nectar of the milkweed fed the butterfly
as a gentle wing swayed the plant back and forth;
the warming rays of the sun
penetrated deep into the soul of the butterfly.

Contemplation is an open field for all to view;
deep rich valleys and abundant food for thought;
established connection and a slow moving river;
all the essence for righteousness enhancement.

The disillusioned woman sat thinking
about her manifestation of illusion, her wants and desires.
Any path chosen will lead to the same river
yet not all will give the same wisdom.

The butterfly was full of sweet nectar
so in tuned with nature it spread it’s wings and took flight
seeing the disillusioned woman it landed on her knee
smiling a subtle smile.

“I don’t cry for you”, she said to the butterfly.
“I cry for the past and what it represents”.
The butterfly took to the air once again,
And landed on the nose of the disillusioned woman.

She smiled, then laughed as the butterfly danced
spreading its wings and turning in circles.
The warmth of the rays penetrated deep into the soul of the woman.
As the gentle wing brushed her cheek.

“Go now”, she said to the butterfly
“For I am alright”
and the butterfly took flight
seeking another common milkweed.