JANE AND YOU AND THE BUTTERFLY.

A BOY AND GIRL AND A BUTTERFLY IN 1961 AND LOVE

Jane sat on her haunches
and opened her hands
to show the butterfly

she had just captured
from a nearby flower
and said the name of it

but you were studying
her sitting there
the way she opened her hands

like some flower
in the morning light
spreading its petals

and her eyes bright
and deep
set on the wings

of the butterfly
and its opening
and closing of wings

and she smiled
and she said something else
but the words escaped you

not the tone or softness
of her voice
but the words

the structure
and meaning of them
and you looked

at her legs
spread downward
beneath

the summery dress
of red and orange
and the sun making

her warm
and you sitting there
wanting to lean forward

and touch her hands
maybe to stroke
the butterfly

but
no
she said

the wings are so delicate
they may damage
just look and see

and she moved her hands
closer to you
and you smelt her scent

the perfume
she said her mother
gave her

and you breathed it in
as you leaned forward
and the butterfly took off

and she watched it go  
and waved it goodbye
and then turned

and looked at you
and you felt a warm passion
flow through you

as she gazed
into your eyes
and spoke

but the words
slipped away
like the butterfly

but the perfume
was still there
and her hands closed

and she placed them
over yours
as you sat opposite

and the sun warmed
and blessed both
your heads

and the butterfly
disappeared over
the high hedge

and away
and her words
were lost to you

that moment
of that summery day.