The Butterfly and the Moth

- I awaken staring at a blank, cold wall;

There's no one to talk to... no one to call.

My heart is burning, poisoned by pain.

My mind is screaming; I'm going insane.

- I have to stay strong and battle this Hell -

If I stop now, there'll be no more story to tell.

My struggles, my agony, the turmoil I hide

Keep battling within, trying to destroy me inside.

- In the darkness I've slipped into, I'm all alone.

No sound - just silence; no pitch... no tone.

No more beauty... no more life...

Only despair to cut through me like a knife.

- Pushing my emotions down further... deeper,

I face the Sower and the Reaper.

The first smiled at me with kindness in His eye;

The latter whispered evil as soft as a sigh.

- Both of them faced me with hands outstretch'd;

The righteous and clean, the tempter and wretch'd.

I stood and stared, unsure of my choice;

I tried to speak, but had no voice.

- My words meant nothing, I understood;

Actions screamed louder than the throat ever could.

Slowly... cautiously... my arms reached out

To my Father who loved me beyond all doubt.

- A whisper sounded in my ear:

"Wander carefully and choose wisely, my dear."

Once more, everything disappeared,

And on my soul was another scar seared.

- I knew then the test had only begun;

It was not something that I could easily outrun.

I could no longer childishly think of myself -

The others came first; my emotions would find the shelf.

- I hid in the darkness a few moments more,

Already afraid of what was in store.

Suddenly, sunlight met my window;

Finally, I couldn't stop myself from letting tears flow,

- I gathered the strength to move from my bed

To the rocking chair by the window; I wept there instead.

My tears splashed wood rather than sheet

As I hung my head, bowing in defeat.

- I didn't know how I could battle this storm

While still refusing to conform.

I realized it was impossible; I'd never be the same.

For my entire life I had been a piece in a game.

- All these years I had been broken down;

I had become an empty city, a shell of a town.

I opened my window, needing some air;

The wind caressed me and lifted my hair.

- My heart started to flutter and fill with hope

As I began to think about how I would cope.

A breath escaped my lips in a sigh

Just as, through my window, came a butterfly.

- Its wings were black and spotted with blue -

The beat of my heart matched its wings as it flew.

It circled my head and landed on my hand,

Its touch lighter than a grain of sand.

- I grew slightly pale as I recognized the sign

Of Death in my room - a power divine.

In my worry, I glanced out the window;

Everything was still, no longer silent though.

- I heard the call of a blue jay somewhere in a tree,

Hidden away so the cruel world could not see.

A cardinal perched and ate at a feeder,

Its bright color marking it a strong bird, a leader.

- All of a sudden, the breeze made me shudder;

Then, something else came though the window with a flutter.

In came a small, gentle moth -

Its wings were ivory, petite, and soft.

- This soothing sign lifted my spirit,

Comforting me, giving me no reason to fear it.

The moth landed by the butterfly

Steadily... silently... seemingly shy.

- This beautiful sign of life and light

Inspired me, uplifted me, renewed my sight.

On my hand rested Death and Life,

Yin and Yang, Peace and Strife.

- The whole world was reflected in these two,

As was my life - I realized it was true.

Death ends Life, yet begins something else:

An eternity in Heaven or punishment in Hell.

- I had to choose which to follow -

To try to live or to die hollow.

I decided to live with all of my might,

To stand strong and not give up the fight.

- As if satisfied with my decision,

The creatures flew off, and I envisioned

Life chasing Death and Death chasing Life -

The Butterfly and the Moth, silent and lithe.