red admiral

Red admiral

 

I opened the door and you almost hit me as you flew by,

Flapping your wings like it was too hard to keep a straight line,

Having passed me you landed on my front room chair,

As you rested a tear dropped from my left eye,

Yet somehow my mind said don’t worry all would be fine,

Then the phone rang and my thoughts were clear,

 

He’s gone the caller said have you heard?

And I looked and answered no he is still here at rest,

A bewildered voice asked “are you alright”

Fine I said staring at you there as you rested unnerved,

As you opened your wings and looked your very best,

As if to fly again using all of your might,

 

I did it many times set you on your own path,

Held your wings gently and set you free,

Watched you as you moved awkwardly finding your way,

Saddened yet delighted mourned your aftermath,

Knowing once you left never again would I see?

Your beautiful wings shared and on display,

 

“Did you hear me he’s gone he died?”

The caller wept from the other end of the line,

The silence was deafening right then on the phone,

With no effort you flapped your wings as I tried,

To hold back the tears praying all would be fine,

Without help freedom was yours as you flew off alone.

 

The door is still open on sunny days,

I hope you will call again as you did that morning,

The second you landed I knew you were free,

I needed no phone to shock me into a daze,

Your life forever more transforming,

Like the butterfly short lived beautiful to me.

For a nephew much loved by all who knew him: