This morning, I have seen a butterfly.
An orange tip. The first I’ve seen this year.
I opened my back door to watch it fly
Across the yard, and almost shed a tear.
Even the ants that crawl across the cracked
Concrete outside, (and keep coming inside
The house) evoke the deep and aching lack
Of nature in my life. We have to ride
This out. Have to stay in. But still I feel
The sudden joy at seeing something wild;
It’s rare these days. I know that one day we’ll
Be free. Today, I saw this thing, and smiled.
One day I’ll go out, seek the wild. But hey,
For now, I’ll take whatever comes my way.
Tom Juniper Poetry 