Freeing, I think, about a million birds

The great light cage has broken up in the air,

freeing, I think, about a million birds

whose wild ascending shadows will not be back,

and all the wires come falling down.

(From "Rain Towards Morning" by Elizabeth Bishop)

Failure to Thrive or Just Impatient (A Caterpiller)

A caterpillar,

this deep in fall--

still not a butterfly.

(A Caterpillar by Matsuo Basho)