Gillian Bickley - UK

Yesterday I saw a butterfly, slightly disturbed,

but purposeful, the possibility of hysteria

only

a possibility

contradicting my inward descent into the subway

flying on a route that would take it out

as I hurried down steps that led me in.

Today, I saw a caterpillar, small and thin

possibly the same species.

Perhaps there will be a generation of butterflies

teaching us the way out.

1970-1997

From Gillian Bickley, For the Record and other Poems of Hong Kong, Proverse Hong Kong, 2003, distributed in Hong Kong and worldwide by: The Chinese University Press, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong; Tel: (INT+852) 2609-6508; Fax: (INT+852) 2603-7355; cup@cuhk.edu.hk; web: cuhk.edu.hk/cupress; distributed in the United Kingdom and worldwide except Hong Kong by: Christine Penney, 28 West Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 6DN, UK; email: christine.penney@virgin.net