Spreading a Butterfly's Wings

I love

Spreading a butterfly's wings

The silky smoothness

The delicate appearance

So pleasing to the eye

And, to the touch

The dazzling variety

Of color

Of shape

Of size

And

Of texture

Makes me swoon

With delight

And weak

With pleasure

Spreading a butterfly's wings

Requires a steady hand

And a fighting off of desire

To stretch them

To the limit

Without pushing

Too far

For when

A butterfly's wings

Are spread

As wide as they can go

That is when

The inner beauty

Is revealed

In all its glory

And all its trembling delicacy

Lightly perfumed

And

Eagerly consumed...