One night of heavy heat the rain began
And peal on peal of angry thunder rolled.
When all was quiet again, surprised I saw
A butterfly – quite still and dazed it seemed –
Which in our house sought refuge from the storm.
Finding a cloth, I silently drew near;
Gently I picked it up – it scarcely fluttered –
Carried it to the window and released it.
And my reward? Its glad, unhindered flight,
A little dust, fine and impalpable,
Shed from a butterfly’s world-changing wing.
Sheila Durbin
