The Death Agony of the Butterfly

Gwendolyn MacEwen

a monarch beats its velvet brain

against the light, against
the cold light, I
thought of you.

dance you, dance
you bitch
against the light against
the cold lights, that's
what you said.

always behind me, always
behind me is
your violent music, beat
until the butterfly's velvet brain
is dead

dance you, dance
you bitch, I
love you against
the light against
the cold light, always
behind me is
your violent music.

Carol Wilson