Insects and Stars in Jars

Grandfather helped her to capture
ladybirds, beetles and caterpillars,

any interesting bugs, of all colours,
shapes and sizes, but they always died.

When Grandmother took her outside
to introduce her to the night sky,

to a full moon and swirls of stars,
she forgot about the butterflies

she’d always wished for and tried
to catch the cosmos in her empty jars.