Skipper

To the rock
   That wished to fly
   Like a butterfly 

   Sent skipping along
   The mirrored sky
   Bearing a Layton sigh

   Do you feel alive?







*Skipper: a type of butterfly

*Layton: Irving Layton 1912-2006
  Canadian poet, author of "Butterfly on Rock"

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Darlene De Beaulieu

Date: 11/12/2019 1:09:00 PM

Hello Maureen McGreavy, I like to watch the ripples of the rock hitting the water. have a nice day my friend.

Paul Callus

Date: 10/30/2019 2:06:00 PM

Quite creative, Maureen....personification and metaphor all in one. As to your end question...I sigh :) and leave it to my ripe imagination. Regards // paul

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart
Date: 10/31/2019 7:47:00 AM

Thank you so much Paul, I almost want to say a companion piece to Layton's poem, dare I equate myself to the master... (I don't) ;), xomo!

Quoth Theraven

Date: 10/21/2019 10:51:00 AM

Maureen, One of my favorite pastimes, skipping stones. I am so inspired by this poem. "Do you feel alive?" -getting there. -Richard

Quoth Theraven
Date: 10/30/2019 11:38:00 PM

Too true the write and the loss. All ours to find again. -R

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart
Date: 10/21/2019 12:32:00 PM

I find skipping stones brings out the inner child, we so rarely experience such spontaneous play when we grow up. Well, most people ;), Thank you Richard!

Arturo Michael

Date: 10/21/2019 5:35:00 AM

Is the Skipper teasing the Rock... it better watch out...

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart
Date: 10/21/2019 6:59:00 AM

Yeah, the skipper didn't fare so well in Layton's poem ;D, Hugs my sweet friend. xomo

Rico Leffanta

Date: 10/20/2019 4:58:00 PM

Something for all the rocks that do not wish to fly to duly consider .. ..Well done! Aloha! Rico

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart
Date: 10/21/2019 6:58:00 AM

They're all jealous of the smooth flat ones, they always get picked. ;), Aloha my friend, xomo!

Jeff Connelly

Date: 10/20/2019 1:25:00 PM

I do love this Maureen but have mixed personal thoughts. The first definitely is personal to me, is that I taught my first wife to skip rocks, and she was so amazed by this that I watched her for at least half a day happily skipping rocks. But my other, which may be my mistranslation. Your usage of the word "Layton". Because it was capitalized, I wondered, that it is an Old English word meaning "by a watercourse" which later turned into the words "herb garden". May i ask your meaning Maureen?

Jeff Connelly
Date: 10/22/2019 9:00:00 AM

Instead of a story I wrote a poem "not a skipper", but can't post it yet since I'm over the 24 hour limit.

Jeff Connelly
Date: 10/22/2019 1:16:00 AM

I understand Maureen, but my mind always seems to take me a bit further closer to the cliff; I do know of the wonderful butterfly "skipper"; they are delightful to see. Thank you Maureen. I could add a short story on why a butterfly means more to me then my second wife's first husband lol. Oh what tangled webs we do weave lol.

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart
Date: 10/20/2019 1:54:00 PM

Thank you Jeff. A lovely memory. Layton as in Irving Layton, a late Canadian poet, (was a friend of Leonard Cohen) specifically his poem Butterfly on Rock, one of my all time favourite poems... Layton playing on the word latent. ;), xomo