The Moth

Darkness in the cocoon

safety, warmth

living an existence of ordered regularity

shielded from the world outside

the cocoon is a wall of safety

within which the grub slowly grows

and then emerges

Safety stripped away

the walls are gone

and the moth takes flight

it glories in the freedom of knowing

that it is a creature of the light

of the air

and it soars and swoops

the moth feels the heights to which it can fly

and sees the breadth of perception

But the wind blows

and the moth feels the chill of the hostile air

Buffeted it remembers the warmth of the cocoon

and seeks that warmth anew.

Then it feels warmth

and turns toward the source

The warmth grows

and the moth knows that the cocoon

could never give a warmth like this.

Like a magnet the warmth attracts

and the moth draws ever closer

till the warmth becomes a consuming heat

and the moth finds that final rest.

© Ian Croft Dec 96