Conquering the Butterfly

She flits, a free spirit
Tasting the nectar on the wind
First here, then
There
She dances on air
Sharp quick movements
Graceful.

He watches, entranced
And knows her true purpose
 Another notch to show
Avid collectors.
His goal is pure:

To preserve
The vibrancy and beauty
Better he catch her
In youth; than to let her
Brightness fade-
Right?

She sees a glint
And stops; letting
Curiosity get the better
Too late; too bad.
She’s caught.

She can see
But can no longer feel
And the smell
Is heady but wrong

Where did the fresh scent
And the soft skin go?
And why is she stuck?
Her frantic beating only goes on

While his eyes twinkle
And watch
His goal is to keep her
In the dark
So he can enhance
Her innocence

And keep it in place.
Each breath she draws
She begins to stop wanting
To run and only to sleep
To escape into bliss
The sun will be there
Tomorrow

She thinks. And dreams
He does this because
Another flew away
Some unscathed Icarus
Flew towards a fictional sun
Enlightened and free

She spirals down
But is unafraid
She draws in deep
Unknowing; uncaring
Each breath a new stone
In her belly

But she doesn’t mind
And when she feels the fresh
Air on her face
She can only flutter weakly.
As a pin grabs
And pulls

And flattens
Her wings against a page
Bright splashes against pale cream
Perfection
And she takes pleasure
As the plastic smoothes her flat
And he smiles

She is his.