Going Downhill Fast

One butterfly spies a glint in his eye;

The birds sing as he cycles by

Oh, why should he feel sad?

This world ain't so bad

And besides - woe betide he who would frown

When natural beauty abounds

And now, with wheels spinning free

He's picking up speed...

Two butterflies tie knots in his stomach -

They love it when he goes too fast!

The wind whistles past

In vast oceans of air that will mess up his hair

Though he no longer cares anymore

For over-indulgence in vanity's vacuous vice

Just once or twice, thrice

Four times in five we forget we're alive

And neglect to remind ourselves

Wait, then, for me

Oh great Mercury!

As late as you may be

Will you wait for me?

Three butterflies realise when it's time to depart -

They have tickled his ribs, they have fluttered his heart

But the starting is easy compared to the stop

And the bottom is hard when compared to the top