A million shining scales
Adrift on tiny wings
A fingernail rainbow
Leaf scattered to the wind
I follow you in flight
I watch you as you settle
Sip the nectar sweet
Just a single petal
Holds you to the sun
Lifts you to the sky
And now I take my chance
Just before you fly
Take one small step forward
And so the trap is set
A tumbling blur of motion
And you are in my net
A million shining scales
Adrift on tiny wings
A fingernail rainbow
Leaf scattered to the wind
Just let me look upon you
And then I’ll let you go
Trust me,
I won’t hurt you
I only want to know
How you came upon this beauty
When there’s so much cause for fear
How you show your colours boldly
Even when there’s danger near
How your courage like a beacon
Shines bright across your wings
Please tell me, then I’ll let you go
How do I find these things?
Catching Butterflies
In my latest poem for the West England Youtube channel, I recall a memory of catching butterflies and how fascinated I was in their beauty, their fragility, and their ability to survive in a world this hostile. With the threat of climate change, war and the gradual erosion of democracy, we need to find our collective courage now, more than ever.
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