Butterfly on a Rampage by Zoe Epstein (Massachusetts, 18)

have you ever seen a butterfly
go on a rampage?
it’s a sight for sore eyes
or a sorry sight for sympathetic eyes

her picturesque wings fluttering
rapidly in the wind
her delicate body swaying
trashing to escape

and the giant roams
with his butterfly catchers
swatting, seizing, snatching
prying, abducting, invading

​but if only the butterfly just submitted
accepted her inferiority
trusted the cycle of life
relished in how she was wanted

pinned and preserved
in a sealed case
scientific name listed
date of collection recorded

in a museum
or on a designated shelf
for all to cherish and admire
for all to critique and analyze

have you ever seen a butterfly
go on a rampage?
have you ever thought about if the butterfly
was merely trying to live?
trying to survive before her untimely end?
trying to exist for herself?
trying, just trying?

no, the butterfly was simply
on another rampage
without reason
for attention




Zoe Epstein (She/They) is a queer poet based in Massachusetts. They have received recognition in the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for their portfolio of poems. They plan to study creative writing at Mount Holyoke College in the fall and aspire to have more of their pieces published in the future.