Inching across a leaf, is a caterpillar.

Each centimeter–its food.

It craves growth

like a dictator spreading his rein.

Hungry for a change.

It dodges the hands of the neighborhood kids–

their grubby fingers falling from the sky.

Like a spy slowly sneaking through the shadows,

She prays to end this

madness.   

The caterpillar locks itself away in a spool of silk–

woven to perfection.

It conceals itself from the world–

the cocoon it’s shield.

Hidden from the enemy.

One day, she breaks through the constructing exterior.

She is ready to emerge,

prepared for the challenges.

The world stops to gaze at her as she extends her wings.

Brand new.

Her job is to pollinate–

to keep the flowers alive.

She uses her tongue to get her fuel,

while giving the flower what it craves:

life.

The insect lays on her floral throne.

A boy’s hand extends towards her.

She pulls her body away from his grasp.

He runs through the field, she soars through the treetops–

finally free.