to be a butterfly
to emerge not once but
twice on this earth
at first so humbly
caterpillaring around
consuming, anticipating
chrysalis
its a fun word we don’t
get to use enough
unfolding, unwrapping
wings drying, beholding
a universally accepted beauty
fluttering — notice,
we never say flapping
proboscis, curled
for two weeks
burning the candle
at both ends
a vacation for
the soul, after a long
lifetime of work
then back to the pool
ready for human form,
again — time to grow