Amanda Daly

Captured you
to place on display
in a glass house.
Light and fade.
Circle a twig,
a dry leaf.

Jealous, placed you
in my mouth
so I could shine
behind the eyes
with your frantic
entrapment.

Considered swallowing,
but light dies quick
on the inside.
Exhaled. Imagined you
riding the breath,
but instead

dropped,
rice-paper wings soaked.
Watched you
light and fade
and convulse there
where I set you free.