Delicate Cases

This ivory case,

Painted to look pretty,

Soft to touch,

Is a delicate case;

But not hard to find.

The case;

As pretty as it may be;

As delicately as it must be handled;

Is worth far less than what's inside.

Something bright,

Something beautiful,

Something old -

Sometimes new -

A wonderful being so much bigger than the case.

A soul,

So intricately wrapped in a body,

That remains,

When the body can no longer be seen.

Some souls burst free,

Show themselves to a world undeserving,

Then recede back to their delicate cases,

To join the others in droves,

And anchor in the crimson velvet lining.