Elaine sits
on the loo
before school
she takes down
a small book
butterflies
(her father’s)
opens it
in her palm
scans pages
with fingers
and her eyes
just in case
John says
have you seen
suchandsuch
butterfly?
she picks one
at random
from the book
Adonis
Blue she sees
captures it
with her eyes
and holds it
the image there
to tell him
the real one
she had seen
on the grass
at their school
one lunchtime
as they sat
on the field
he talking
(as he does)
her small hand
near to his
she feeling
odd feelings
inside her
about him
his closeness
then she saw
that soft blue
butterfly
on the grass
look at that
she had said
John had looked
Adonis
Blue he said
but his hand
touched her hand
she sits there
on the loo
closes up
the small book
puts it back
on the shelf
thinks of him
and his touch
wanting him
and his hands
and his lips
o so much.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem