The Butterflies

have outgrown the jar

in it they flit
trying to flutter
snapping against the glass
shaking sticky pollen
from their butterfly bodies

so I open the wide mouth lid
with an ease that clicks
and the world takes a
breath – setting butterflies
free – wings of black and gold
lift like yellow light
fold and open like applause

Mary Torregrossa, helps facilitate the Emerging Urban Poets writing workshops and critiques at the Santa Catalina Library in Pasadena, California. She is a poetry host for La Puente Art Walk and a teacher in the Peer Poet Program for Youth, both projects of the Nuvein Arts Foundation. Mary was selected as a 2009 “Newer Poets of Los Angeles” by the LA Poetry Festival, featured on Pacifica Radio KPFK, and profiled in the Los Angeles Times.