Origami Butterflies

As children, we sat together folding construction paper into
origami butterflies with our teacher's guidance.
Our novice fingers smoothed the paper when finished
and we laughed while learning the geometry of life.

Later, we folded our bodies in new and pleasing ways,
bringing ourselves into alignment with each other.
   Where there had always been separateness,
     we found joy in union.
   Where there had once been shame,
     we found honor and pleasure in sharing
     all that we’d carried since birth.

In those moments we became as one, a new
appearance of creation that could only be broken
by death or infidelity, whichever came first.