New Life

He did not mean for it to happen
He was just doing what kids do

Capture and release
Wanting to hold something beautiful

But when he opened his cupped hands
A pair of delicate wings stuck to his palm
A newly flightless creature crawled across his knuckles

Put it down, I said, before you hurt it more

There, he said, as he flicked it off his hand,
Now it has a new life

We watched it crawl along the ground

Yes, I replied
Remembering
It can happen that fast