John Vogel (March 20,1969 / Santa Rosa, California (USA))

'Where have all the butterfly's gone? '
she looks up into his face
the picture of innocence
the question hits him
like a ton of bricks
his mind trips back to the past
as he remembers the time
when flowers would bloom and
butterflies would flutter
when grass grew green and lush
when water flowed free
he thinks how much has changed
in a few short years

How can he explain to to her innocent mind
that greed and pride destroyed
what we had been given
no longer will the butterflies fly
no longer will the grass grow green
no birds to sing in the sky
only the naked sun to burn us away
only a short time left
until the end of all things
but how can he tell her these things?

How can he explain that ignorance
that mankind's utter ignorance
destroyed the sky, the sea, the land
as if... as if we didn't care
as if tomorrow would always be there
he looks down in her innocent eyes
waiting for an answer
waiting for an explanation
he sighs...
'the butterflies have died'