One day as I sat outside, on a day so nice and warm.
A butterfly flew up to me and landed on my arm.
As my eyes fell on this creature, so beautiful and free.
I couldn’t help but wonder why it chose to land on me.

I watched it in amazement as it sat there very calm,
Then I put my hand out to it and it stepped into my palm.
I held it closer to my face to adore the pretty thing,
Then it showed me all it’s splendor as it opened up its wings.

I thought it wouldn’t be here if it didn’t want to be,
And I felt that since it landed here, it came here just for me.
The next thing that I did as I look back now seems bazaar,
I took this thing of beauty and I put it in jar.

In the jar I kept this wondrous beauty just for me,
And I was sure it liked it here, this was plain to see.
But all at once it dawned on me as I looked at this delight,
That a butterfly, is not a butterfly without its flight.

Although I tried denying, I can now see and I know,
Even though I want it here with me, I have to let it go.
I want to keep it for myself, but I know that this can’t be,
For it can’t be what it really is, if it can’t be free.

So I took it to the garden and I opened up the jar,
And I said you’re free to fly away, to be just what you are.
It spread its pretty wings and then up to the sky it flew,
And its beauty was beyond compare against the sky of blue.

As I watched it fly away in its ever graceful flight,
Even though it hurt inside me, I knew that this was right.
Butterflies belongs to no one, there is no need to pretend,
Perhaps someday this butterfly will land on me again.

Jack Roberts – August 2002

repost of an earlier poem