To be like a moth, 

is to be something new, 

follow the same path of the butterfly, 

but to grow fuzz and strange antenna, 

to be looked at as less than, 

to be seen as negative, 

and yet, 

the moth will still thrive. 

While seen as different, 

as odd,

as strange, 

they’ll go through the same life stages. 

But, they’ll come out as something else, 

maybe even something better.

Like a moth to a flame

that is not always a bad thing,

one is drawn to a light, 

something new, 

something bright. 

While others think of flames as pain 

fire can be rebirth, 

a phoenix is made a new in flames, 

like a forest fire,

there will be new trees,

new life. 

Flames are not bad, 

nor is change. 

While a moth is not a phoenix, 

it is something all its own.

But they both are resilient 

something special. 

something new, 

something different, 

something not yet overdone. 

And yet, a moth is not a phoenix. 

While a phoenix will always rise from the ash of the flame 

a moth cannot. 

For the moth is not made of flames and light, 

although it is drawn to both, 

it is seemingly fragile thing. 

Delicate wings, 

soft bodies, 

and yet one can handle a moth by its wings, 

a single tear will not ground its will. 

The moth will survive, 

The moth can thrive, 

The moth will learn to overcome. 

But it is not made of flames, 

it is not as widely accepted that it is its own kind of beauty. 

But a moth is only seen in the shadow of the butterfly, 

and yet it can survive much more. 

A moth is seen as odd and strange, 

but to people who really see them,

who fully take the time understand 

who will look past the preconceived ideas, 

who can see just how wonderful a moth really is.

That person should matter to the moth.

The idea of the moth is not simply just a moth,

It is:

a fighter who can go through so much 

and yet it can still fly. 

The idea of the moth will change, 

will be something new, 

no matter what 

it will always be a moth. 

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featured image graphic by EMILY STEPHENS