“The spot on my back where my wings used
to be”
© Mike Absalom January 24th
2012

On this bóithrín butterflies abound
fluttering like escaped
confetti in the afternoon.
Here a brown dark and yellow
spotted creature
disguised as a fallen leaf
conceals itself close to
where red admirals and peacocks
brazenly flaunt their gaudy
nakedness.
It crouches lower,
and trembles under a bracken
shadow on the hot asphalt.

I bend down to know it more
closely
and the spot on my back where
my wings used to be
itches.