Falling High

I opened up the cage today
to let the butterfly out.
It fluttered and flitted from
dark to light, translucent
spectacles of whites, azures,
rose, black; freedom of flight
finds it flying towards the light.
It soars, glides, and feels the open
air for a bit. Suddenly nature turns
against the butterfly. Translucent turns
from gilded wings to leaden feet.
It crashes to the earth below
feeling nothing more than the
freedom given and taken.
They say the Lord giveth and he
taketh away; I say the Lord
has given and allows us our day.
Nothing can predict, no
heart can tell, no mind can see
what pain the free air would befell.
But comforting most of all, is no
regret and no disdain. Love grown stronger,
a heart stretched and a lesson learned.
Now and forever, the butterfly will live
to soar, it knows no limitations, it can not predict
it can not tell, no mind can see, what the future will
bring and the past befell. Only experience will bring
the fruit of life, the nectar the butterfly
sips as he regains his regal
reign on earth and beauty within.
Bring on the tour, new air, and
new territory, new lessons, new loves
but all compounded in one, all
a help returning to our kingdom,
all our blessing to be able to say
I've never failed, but damn how I've learned.