[Verse 1]
Butterflies dancing 
On warm breeze below where I sit 
He calls me down now 
But branch holds me safe in the spring 
How few are left, I watch them float by 

[Verse 2]
I sit on plum branch 
White petals falling around me 
He asks me to dance 
Beneath the wide sky where they wheel 
Three pairs remain in soft light today 

[Verse 3]
His voice reaches up 
Gentle pleading through the blossoms 
Come down, he says, come 
Do not be shy, seize this moment 
But branch feels familiar under me 

[Verse 4]
I watch him waiting 
Patient as butterflies circle 
My heart feels pulled down 
But my hands hold tight to rough bark 
What if I fall? What if I fly? 

[Verse 5]
The last pair lands now 
Their brief dance ending on flowers 
He lifts his hand up 
No more delays, he whispers soft 
Come dance with me in fading days light 

[Verse 6]
Branch holds me gently 
Like mother's arms when I was small 
But butterflies show 
That dancing is also a way 
To be held up by something new 

[Verse 7]
My fingers loosen 
White petals fall with my held breath 
One foot extends down 
Toward his waiting hand below me 
Maybe I can be butterfly too 

蝶の枝 (Chō no Eda) by Lori Yamamoto

Better than a chicken jumping rope backwards!

蝶の枝 (Chō no Eda) by Lori Yamamoto

Egregious