butterfly

i watched a bird trap and eat a monarch earlier
it flew fast, but lived to meander
and drink the offerings of flowers
and the bird was made to eat butterflies
it tattered the butterfly's wings with its mouth
watched it squirm, and speared it

the cruelty in its eyes reminded me of human instinct
knowing, free
willing to kill to attain its needs, to survive another day
move on
do it all again tomorrow,
or sooner if we want

and i unconsciously seek out people i can hurt with my deficiencies and needs
sick hunger for infecting them with sorrow
or a plea for them to soothe me
be my salve, my salvation
deliverance
crying and weeping in a vale of tears
an ocean
it becomes me
and i encompass the world