Van Gogh’s Starless Night

By Madison Simone

A sanctuary of butterflies

But are we really ever safe? 

I crawl to the branch’s edge

To create but instead wait.

Butterflies, distinct and rare

Trace the space unsafely

A twisted kaleidoscope of colors 

Some similar, none the same

Firm wings bat against the breeze

Strength sourced from wells

I have yet to draw from, still

I have plenty of water to drink

Damp wings fly the highest

Maybe mine are too heavy, wet

Weighing me down into stillness 

With regretful risks never met 

What if my wings are 

not worthy of the wind?

And at wings’ last flutter 

My colors fade, oblivion 

Or I fly as I was called to

The pattern-less admiring in awe

And I leave here thinking, 

My wings had no color at all

By Madison Simone