Then one day
There it was
My butterfly.
Its wings spread wide
Ready to fly in all of its glory
But I wasn’t ready for it to leave

I put a lid on the jar to keep it safe

But when I looked
Through the glass
My butterfly was gone.
My heart sank within my chest
I searched high and low
But no matter where I looked

My Butterfly was gone.

I began to cry
My shoulders slumped
I could not be consoled.
Then there he was
Floating toward me
I tried to catch him in my hand.

He dipped and swerved
He was too quick
I could not catch him.
But instead he landed on my nose
He placed his feet firmly
On both sides of the bridge

He looked deeply into my eyes.

This Butterfly
My Butterfly
Spoke to me.
In a familiar voice…
A loving and caring voice…

“You did your best to raise me.
To give me what I needed.
To keep me safe and guard me.
But there are things you cannot change.

You cannot keep me with you, Momma.
But I will never leave your side.”

Then my Butterfly took flight again
As my eyes opened to the morn.
And a teardrop rolled down my cheek.

I could still feel him on my nose.