Leslie Ann Frishberg
heartfly

A constant buzz
in every room
heard all day long
the most at noon .

Today I heard it
whiz on by.
Is it merely
a simple housefly?

No, that buzz
is far too constant.
It's in the attic,
bathroom, basement.

Houseflies aren't heard
in all those places.
And I've seen this buzz
on all their faces.

It's in their laughter
and in their smiles.
It's on their beds
and under laundry piles.

Each place – a child,
followed by a parent,
always accompanied
by this unseen tenant.

It's not a bug,
roach, ant or tick.
It can't be squished,
stomped or kicked.

For this buzz
you cannot see.
Can't you hear it?
It's filled with glee!

It's a heartfly,
running wild.
It's present in
each parent and child.

They smile happily
when all together.
This little heartfly
has made it all better.

Even in death,
pain and sorrow,
this heartfly is there,
and will be tomorrow.

I can see in your face,
you wish it was yours.
This grand feeling of love
that seeps from their pores.

Please don't be jealous.
For this, they've worked hard.
They've been through so much,
the fly is their guard.

Don't think that the buzz
has passed you on by.
Believe that some day
Your heart, too, will fly.