Keep Walking

There’s a plastic bag taped to
a streetlight in my town protecting
a piece of computer paper
with a message of hope on it.

I read it once and learned
that caterpillars grow alone
and maybe I do, too.
But I knew that already.

I kept walking but the
caterpillar’s eyes made me
uncomfortable. They followed me
to see if I would listen this time.

A mosquito bit my arm
and I killed it.
It’s hard being hideous in
a world full of miracles.

Every time I pass the taped bag
there’s another piece of paper
with another message of hope.
Tomorrow I’ll walk a different way.