Now I Feel the Pain I Caused

When I was a young girl I remember chasing butterflies.
A new net every year at Easter.
I just wanted to hold them, admire them up close.

Mom let me bring them into the house.
We thought we were being nice letting them fly in our house.
They flew straight for the light of the window.

We put little trays of sugar water.
Sometimes their wings got stuck in the sticky mixture.
I had no idea how much pain I caused them.

To be able to see the world they loved, but not be able to enjoy it.
A prisoner of my love.
Then they died.