A butterfly translates a few sounds

after completing
a four day fast
and cleansing
water, green tea, herbal tea,
ginseng with hot water

healing from the top down and inside out
the body adjusts in a natural rhythm,
diverting essential chemicals
from digestive to immune system
calm, focused, alert and quiet

he drifted into green
nature zone daily
sitting

a black butterfly wearing
purple on wing
edges
lands close
as he sits
near water

a human is chopping down small trees
in the forest to collect kindling

they will tie it with fibers,
hoist it onto their shoulders
leave tangled memory,
along thick red dust road
toward home

the butterfly translates a few sounds

it dances away
circles over ferns, rocks, slag, abused soil,
hovers
lights
close by
we are both
in a resting state