Moving, Moving, Still

              Moving, Moving, Still

The pilgrims on their way to Lourdes are just

Like entomologists that chase fey things,

Except the nets do capture perfect dust

In patterned beauty on the wanton wings

Symmetrical in color and in shape,

Those doomed realities.  The nets are real.

The doom is real.  The butterflies escape

Or not, but they are real.  The pilgrims feel

But that is all.  Irregular the flight

The nets attempt to stop but maybe in

Its flitting ways it preaches more of light

Than pilgrims know.  The final piercing pin

At least is real for all its ugly pain.

Ignoring truth the pilgrims strain and strain.

Phillip Whidden