by Marissa Bell Toffoli.
Your shadow catches
mine, stretches long
up the sidewalk,
plays hide and
seek in patchy
sunshine. You turn
a falling leaf
into a butterfly.
But you can’t
pick the neighbors’
spring gardens clean.
Look how young
flowers welcome sun
and rain. They
bend, heavy under
the water weight
until they feel
light again, lift.
You won’t wear
the raincoat, no,
thank you, please.
Learned to lean
on magic words
to get what
you want. This
is power – wielding
words. Dealing in
butterfly dreams. Imagination’s
half-magic makes things
feel real. Why
not embrace beginnings
like blossoms on
stormy days? Disbelief
dogs us. See
for yourself how
our shapes merge.
My jacket rustles,
shaking off raindrops.
Rusty wings spread
wide open. We
take flight, chase
joy’s fleeting light.