The Golden Moth

(Poet of the Week, Poetry Super Highway, 11.2005)

You were a moth magnificent
wings a regal golden yellow
black-flecked to accentuate your uniqueness
one night you flurried fearless
into the lights of this home

Fluttered from the clutches
of one curious cat to another
they juggled you and teased you
but you refused to play into their paws
rescued, you were banished
to the kindness of the outside darkness

The next night you were back
into the claws of the cats
again escaped by the grace
of some sort of moth miracle

You were so beautiful
we cheered your tenacity

Then you were gone
we were relieved your pinpoint brain
realized this property
was off-moth territory

But we found you foolish moth
wings still intact
singed dead in an instant
of moth madness
burned by a lightbulb irresistible

Almost like a soldier
returned home after battle
killed crossing the road
on  some mundane errand

© 11.2005 Helen Bar-Lev