Best Moth Poems
A lone moth flits around my front porch light
as wind blows through my window, luring me
to step outside into black velvet’s night.
I search the sky, but no moon can I see.
It seems it’s disappeared, just like my love.
The moaning wind plays havoc with my hair
as that old bulb sways crazily above.
In solitude, I simply stand and stare
at that fool insect! How can it not know
the falseness of the light that it’s drawn to?
Fluorescent doom replaces moon’s sweet glow.
I know this well because in losing you
I lost love’s gleam; I lost my everything,
and still that silly moth is fluttering. . .
written 11/6/2014
Submitted Sept. 12, 2022
For Mark Toney's 2022 Poetry Marathon Mile 14 Poetry Contest
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u
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a
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d
Is
This
Nature's Glory
As a quarry?
Alone and at peace
A life, a new lease
I pull up a piece of land
Take a little time to mend
This rainforest trembles
An open window in shambles
Sitting on my own made porch
I fire up a configured torch
Then lay under, should I say
What is like a porch light ray
And I wait for that one moth
Amongst butterflies sought
An unwanted reject
Like me ready to eject
Take me now in this lush
With the roar of death; a hush
And I will go, amongst this gift
Gods Eden unquestioned; my lift
My life to stop the bleeding of the land
So I protect this marvel, hold her hand
In sincere motion - there is a fusion
I can do
I can do
Never say can't
So I must chant
Let my body meld
With this
forest held
tight
Me alone a window into the future slightly opened
Maybe we are all like moths to a flame - penned
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Mystical amour of moonlight moth's whimsical lure,
a glowing flame in sensual saffron gold attire;
restless tease with every breeze, gilt-cavorting contour,
pale green fluttering, her wings stirring his breath afire.
Lilting lightness in beaming brightness, her dark eyes shine,
in the night renewed flight, fragile love on agile wings;
aerial display of desire's ache amaranthine,
hungry heartstrings crave what evening's ebony brings.
His illumination sparks her imagination,
heart’s replete, breathless beats, she basks in his halo-heat;
fascination with chance her hot romance, damnation,
flame’s fickle spurn, wistful wings burned, by love bittersweet.
Susan Ashley
October 18, 2017
~ First Place ~
Contest: Favorite Rhyming Poem Ever
Sponsor: Laura Loo
"Moth"
The night shivers out
Hymns upon lonely gray wings
They drift like a sigh
A dusk, a glazed verandah, it's just rained,
a smell of lilac, earthworms and wet earth,
an awkward silence - the confusion chained
my tongue: “What if she’ll laugh at? Is it worth?”
A glass of wine casts the vermilion shade
over a tablecloth, a rocking chair
sways quietly, its oscillations fade
as far as you immerse into the rare
edition of “Les Fleurs du mal”* I brought
for you, a curious nocturnal moth
time and again sits on your polka dot
chintz dress, it’s getting late, a creamy froth
of lilac trees spills out of the garden
through open windows. I lament, I bide
my time. Oh, how the words of love are hard in
such an inclement May…
In June you died.
So many years have passed since then, my love.
Wine’s drunk, lilac is gone, the moth in vain
knocks on the screen, only the shadow of
your chair still sways in my delirious brain.
*(fr.) “The Flowers of Evil” by Charles Baudelaire
12.10.2019
Give Me Your Best New Poem Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Emile Pinet
I was reading in my study
On my desk a moth lay stunned,
It had flew into my lamp,
I fear 'tis moribund.
It had fluttered around the room
Erratic in its flight,
Yet in all that empty space
It collided with my light.
I felt sad at its demise
As it flopped beside my book,
How unfortunate I thought
If only it had looked.
I imagine it flew towards the light
In hope of navigation,
Heading, it thought for safety
But meeting devastation.
Enticed to the light on the top porch, you hover...
Moon child of the night, do you look for a lover?
Oh little moth, it's you and I alone,
each bound for a troth of our acquaintance unknown.
Must I be a wife to one not of my choosing,
a servant for life only fit for amusing?
Oh, moth of the moon is it a message you bear,
a sign opportune to the plea in my prayer?
I see open sky through the room’s gaping window...
If I could just fly, I would lift wings and go!
November 5, 2014
The moon shines brightly on my wooden porch,
as shadows dance from trees swayed by the breeze.
Alone, I sit beneath the glowing torch-
shaped light, relaxed, and feeling much at ease.
Above, an open window on the right
and wind-swept curtains catch my eye, and so
a flicker came in view so near the light.
Alone, a moth is drawn inside the glow.
I wondered why a moth is drawn to flame.
Why does the mystery of light attract
the need to endlessly pursue the game
of fluttered wings that seem to interact,
like overwhelming magnets to light’s beam,
into a world of some eternity?
It seems to sense a mystery unseen
beyond the brilliant rays that it can see.
I turned to view the moon up in the sky,
a peaceful light to which I’m lured to know
what mysteries exist beyond my eye.
Alone, my soul is drawn inside the glow.
There was a little caterpillar on a limb
she felt disgusting, ugly and all alone
A moth came by and said”why so grim?”
She replied and said” I am so ugly.”
He said” no you are not you're beautiful .”
“Really? “ I’ve never heard that before.”
“It is true you are, so live your life to the full.”
“Little moth can you tell me your name.”
“Awesome and my last name is fantastic.”
“WoW! That is such an amazing name.”
“ In all seriousness my name is David.”
“I like it, I’m just Tiana I know it's lame."
“ There's nothing lame about your name
“You know how to make a girl feel special."
“Just you Tiana you put my heart aflame.”
“Why? I am just a simple little caterpillar “.
“That's why you don't know how lovely you are.”
“ David I don't no what’s happening to me."
“Maybe you're starting to feel what I feel.”
“ Do you love me David? If so I now see.”
“Yes, I've loved you since I first saw you.”
“I love you too, I must go away for awhile
“ Where are you going love? Please stay.”
“ I have to go but I will return, it's only a trial.”
David stayed on that limb waiting for Tiana.
All of a sudden a beautiful butterfly came
“ Little moth on a limb why are you so grim?”
“ Tiana is that you? This heart only you can tame."
“It is I my love, I told you I would return to you.”
“WoW! I can't believe my eyes. You look good.”
“ I love you so much, you saw my beauty until I could.”
And the butterfly and the moth flew unto new horizons.
3-8-17
Alexis Y.
You the animated pyre
forging a lustful fire
I flee from the darkness
that freezes my life
embracing this moment of death desire...
I am endlessly drawn
to you like a moth to a flame
you the object of my spiraling flight
your bright sun pulls me closer
I burn to speak your name...
Adrift in small sea of light
see dark path to your remains
this funereal night sum of all fears
kindles as you ship like unfurl your mane
flickering flaring as I draw near...
Mesmerized by such blazing beauty
in path of sacrifice I am caught
powerless to resist calescent sexuality
I immolate in the very fire that is sought
burning in your flame with futile delight...
Mi amor the beacon to my demise
with doom the most certain end
gliding towards your banshee cries
my spirit will never turn craven
intoxicated with love into your flame I descend...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Once there was a moth that flew up to Doctor John
He said I'm depressed, I'm a suicidal one"
Doc John said, "I'm no shrink,"
"Why stop here do you think?"
He said, "Well, I had to, because the light was on!"
Through the full of moonlit night
Succumbs a moth to every light
And powder keg wings beat white satin
Serenade in frolic amidst temptations often
Desperation outside upon my veranda door
What brings you to this place, tonight my dear
Perhaps, it might be in hopes of love
Or, ideas of romance you crave, you want
But, she merely answers in very soft fluttery sighs
What thoughts lie behind those sultry grinning eyes
But, what I see are reflections as a moth encircles
Seeking out forbidden love to become entanlged
My reply, to turn out the light and never let you in
Lest I partake of lust beneath your moon glow skin
Thus, then I would be to wander lost in a consequence of haze
Into the moonlit night from door to door and like you, from flame to flame
Oh hot pepper how you call to me, I stare at you with anxiety, I love you so but you torture me, but yet I eat you despite of me. Your heat glows red like a devil inside of me, poking and prodding, tempting me, challenging, promises of fire inside of me. Your skin so beautiful, so perfectly red, I cook you, I blend you, in chocolate or stews, let it be said OMG I so love you. Then the heat sets in and all I can say, is god dear lord when will the pain go away. I break into a sweat, my cheeks go flush, holy ring of fire I must stop. Like a moth drawn to light I cannot resist like a dog to a smell, like a zombie in the midst, I take a bite, the taste so sweet, eyes tear up, smile big and wide, ring of fire, 911 imminent inside. oh hot pepper how I love thee, glorious torture, you are one with me…Poetry by Dean
I sat
Dwindling in the all-consuming heat
When a sudden fluttering
Landed upon my knee.
Frantic moth
Gray and white
Took refuge from
The aggressive black ants
Scurrying and ripping at
It's fragile wings.
Full of sympathy
I cupped the frightened
Trembling moth in my
Hands carrying it away
From a timely death
The torture of barbarous ants.
On a nearby tree
Covered in moss and growth
I bid the moth farewell
Cautiously it flutttered
It's torn spotted gray and
White wings
And took refuge
In the cracks of the bark.
Small little moth
So brave and yet so tiny
To make a struggle
For survival
I pray you made it
just one more day.
In your short
Little life
Like sand in the wind
I pray
Though you may never
Feel the wind
Beneath your wings.
I pray
Before you go
Fade like a small spark
You may feel the sun
On your tiny face
The grass on your skin
Live and know life.
Mirage of gauzy wings,
Makes a path near gold flames.
Mesmerized... it prances
Mystically around
Moonlit torch: the lure of
Magic casts quick danger...
Marking butterfly's end.
4/22/2017
Pleiades M Contest for Kim Merryman