White Butterfly

By Debi McKee [Winner: 3rd Place]

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In the intersection there were cars

Just as in the sky there are never no stars

I was marred by people just like me from my destination

I would cut right through them if not for my hesitation

My objective was more important, as was I

Roaring tires and smoke filling the sky

They should try and see it from my perspective

For my own goals, I would indeed plow ahead

Although I could end up wrecked and dead

But the light yet remained red

And then a flicker of white amongst the banded gray

What was this? Something fluttering and hovering

The cars were covering my view but it rose and dipped

As rushing metal zoomed and wind wildly whipped

I stared anxiously waiting for its imminent death

But it continued flapping and flying as I held my breath

It would disappear behind a car only to again rise

A glowing beacon against roaring noise and pewter skies

Dancing like seaweed on a current breaching the wave

Now, my only thought was a wish for it to be saved

It swerved and dived, miraculously still alive

And I tasted a glimmer of hope that it could survive

Until a wailing ambulance barreled through and then

The pretty white butterfly never rose again