Ballerina butterflies
flutter joyously 
orbiting each other 
in ruffled orange tutus 

Tinkly, melodious 
piano notes of 
Swan Lake drift 
from the ice cream van 
parading down 
our avenue 

Pirouetting in the 
steamy Florida air 
they embrace briefly 
giving a tiny imperceptible 
kick of their 
black slippered feet 
before wafting in 
myriad directions 
wings far-flung.... 

Sheer happiness 
lives in their dance 
I watch with delight
resting on my 
ebony walking cane 
as they soon disappear 
into a neighbor's 
small mango grove