haylee: psych ward poetry (iii)

wherever haylee goes,

butterflies follow.

purple wings

to remind her that things

won’t always be this way.

they flutter behind her

as she paces the floor

and settle in her curls

which she wishes would uncurl.

when haylee smiles,

monarchs escape her mouth

and dance through the gaps in the courtyard fence

which she wishes would fall.

she wishes, and sometimes she wonders

if it’s even worth it.

but then she smiles

and the butterflies that kiss her freckled face

remind her that it is.

it’s worth it;

she is worth it.