The Butterfly

Whatever stirs the tips of copper and urges buds to swell
comes with the suns expanding heat, a welcome spring induce,
for the urge is now returning from survivors of the winter
to prepare accomplishment in nature’s drive to reproduce.

Proboscis touching nectar in the reds and gold’s and blues,
plus other hues; a jewel that flits and dies on it’s third day,
aware its progeny exists where wattlebird and wrens keen-eyed
scan through the boughs and foliage seeking out their prey.

In the multitude of leaves upon our garden shrubs and trees,
where leaves of chlorophyll become necessities for being,
but contentment with our vibrant garden (which is not a natural home)
turn to sadistic battlegrounds with two parties disagreeing.

For unseen there in this greenery with a natural camouflage
of needed stripes, spots and shapes, for the grazer to survive -
out comes a dust and spray or powder; quite offensive to the land
to obliterate one single insect, but leave nothing there alive.

Lying curled and twisted on the ground; unthinking in this victory,
that death of beauty in it's early stage be destroyed without detection.
Guilty of two months destruction, pruning trees a little ragged
in our world of perfect angles with no time for imperfection.

When beak and claw complete their cull, move on and kill no more,
and genocide is over - thank God - a miss has just let one slip by
to transform and look so harmless in its chrysalises form …
preparing now for metamorphosis - to become a butterfly.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021



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Date: 12/30/2021 6:13:00 AM
Wonderfully written. Thoroughly enjoyed both the read and the message, to which I can relate.
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/2/2022 7:28:00 PM
Hello Ronald ... unfortunately, any creature that we should share this earth with will not survive if it doesn't comply with our lifestyle. Pleased you can relate to this Ronald - Lindsay
Date: 12/29/2021 4:44:00 AM
Such beautiful insights into the wonders of nature,Lindsay. Always good to read your poems. SuZ
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/2/2022 7:24:00 PM
Hello Suzanne ... thanks for reading and commenting. Yes, nature can provide all our needs - thanks Suzanne - Lindsay
Date: 12/23/2021 9:06:00 AM
Hi Lindsay. Enjoyed reading this. Your fourth stanza is so relevant to how we treat wildlife. Unseen in the greenery - dust, spray and powder, offensive to the land. Insecticides galore. Reminds me of Carson's book, 'Silent Spring'. Tony
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/2/2022 7:21:00 PM
Hello Tony ... whatever poisons kill the insects in time will result in problems for humans. As insects become immune, insecticides become stronger and chemical companies don't give a hoot - thank you Tony - Lindsay
Date: 12/21/2021 1:22:00 AM
Fantastic lines, Lindsay. I enjoyed the entire story.
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/2/2022 7:17:00 PM
Hello Lin ... I'm pleased that you did enjoy this poem on the life of a butterfly - thanks Lin - Lindsay
Date: 12/20/2021 10:39:00 AM
Enjoyed the write even though it does not take very long for Monarch caterpillars to strip a crown flower bush of its leaves. They don't stop to breathe! Aloha! Rico
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/2/2022 7:15:00 PM
Hello Rico ... so correct Rico. Gardeners despise caterpillars without thought of their eventual grace and beauty. So what is the answer? Thank you Rico - Lindsay
Date: 12/20/2021 3:55:00 AM
Love to see them in the garden in summertime but no chance for a few months as we head for the depths of winter. Merry Christmas to you and your Lindsay. Tom
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/2/2022 7:10:00 PM
Hello Tom ... oh yes; the butterfly is the sign of grace and beauty - thank you Tom - Lindsay
Date: 12/20/2021 12:31:00 AM
So sad is the fate of these short lived flitting butterflies. Their life span is so short despite the fact that they are such a delight. A beautifully composed poem Lindsay !
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/2/2022 7:08:00 PM
Hello Valsa ... thank you for your encouraging comment Valsa - Lindsay
Date: 12/19/2021 8:39:00 PM
I really enjoyed your rhyming lines, Lindsay. Only 5% of butterfly eggs survive to emerge from the chrysalis.
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/2/2022 7:07:00 PM
Hello Jenna ... yes unfortunately. The caterpillar is a much sought after food source - thank you Jenna - Lindsay
Date: 12/19/2021 5:04:00 PM
How sad and moving, especially the lines 'death of beauty' and 'no time for imperfection' - but change is sometimes necessary for transformation~
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Lindsay Laurie
Date: 1/2/2022 7:05:00 PM
Hello Michelle ... what would our world be like without butterflies. We love them, but many never make it to this stage - thank you Michelle - Lindsay
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