Butterfly Heart

Have you ever noticed that when you hold a butterfly too tightly its wings stop beating against your palm? Do you remember the panic? One squeeze too tight even if involuntary and the wings will never beat again. I recognize the feeling even now, twenty years later as I cradle your heart in my hand admiring the lacy vessels streaming gracefully across the surface and the solid rhythmic beating like breathing Yes, you entrusted it to me and I promised. But now I’m afraid my hand is too clumsy and life is too uncertain and and and.... So for now I cling to you, losing myself hoping our embrace is loud enough to silence my thoughts But I forgot to return your heart. (and I think I squeezed too hard.)