Self-portrait as a Butterfly
By Luna Isham, Age 17, Duxbury
A butterfly breaks into colored diamonds
falling from the sky.
They water the ground below her.
Roses sprout from the soggy earth.
Wolves howl and an owl cries.
The birds sing a sweet song
and the cake of nectar hardens on the porch.
The life sings and blood rains
and the diamonds collect
in the woolen trough of fortune.
Coins jangle within a purse
echoing sorrow into a starry night sky.
A cow moos.
A horse neighs.
A cat says meow.
The roses grow to reach the tallest tower
and the butterfly asks if the maiden can see her.
A princess plants wings to
grow some daisies
but the daisies break up, rotted.
Wind blows the soot of the leaves
and blinds a bear
so that he cannot eat a prince
for his meat.
Daisies regain color.
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.
A rainbow graces the sky.
Sunshine rains crystal drops from the heavens.
Butterflies fly onward.
Angels sing.
Life cries.
Slowly, slowly, everyone dies.
Quickly, quickly, everyone lives.
Beautiful, beautiful, everyone is …
beautiful, beautiful, everyone is
beautiful, beautiful,
beautiful.
