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.)
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