there was a time when caterpillars crawled under my skin,
raised the hairs on my arms, sent shivers through my spine.
they creeped down my throat, and made a home in my stomach.
they obscured my vision underneath my eyelids.
they were inside my brain, fitting in between the cracks.
they spun their cocoons in my guts, and they waited, and they grew.
when i saw you, they sprouted anew.
they stretched their wings, and tried to fly.
in their claustrophobic space, they fluttered by the dozens.
i tried to keep my mouth closed tight so they couldn’t escape.
i let my lips open just once, and a single butterfly broke free.
its vibrant colors distracted and confused you.
before i knew it, i couldn’t hold them back anymore.
they flew out of my body and into the open air.
they surrounded our heads like a cloud.
i frantically tried to catch them, but it was too late.
i already had said too much.