the lion and the butterfly

(ahhhh)

the lion held strength in his paws

and purpose in his stride

every creature in the forest lived in the shadow of his power

he ruled the ground both day and night

and none were his equal in prowess or might

(ahhh)

the butterfly brought colour to the air

and carried stars on her back

she flew through sun, through rain, through light, through the black

all the other creatures of the forest lived in ignorance of her magic

all but the lion who would raise his eyes in reverence of the butterfly’s secret dance

entranced by the wings that wound and whirled with such ease

he longed to be as free as he knew her to be

(ahhhh)

so the lion left the forest

and roamed the tallest paths of this world

and when he saw what she could see

he wept to know the beauty of everything below

and he leapt without thought or fear

and death came with gentle wings and taught him how to fly

(ahhhh)