In The Beginning (for Monarch butterflies)

Gold cherry

By onemorething

Sun, 29 Aug 2021
  • 1770 reads
8 comments
 

In the beginning, 

there was a maker - 

every story has one.

A fleeting matriarch 

who abandons life to chance,

here, to the underside of leaves

of milkweed; the doulas of kings,

before the winter in their blood

severs the bond. 

From instar to instar,

do they recall

who they used to be?

The monarchs flee

for warmer harbour, a plea

to cottonwood and willow,

to dream of rain, tender and golden,

at fifty degrees when these little divinities 

may swarm their own autumn - 

a surge of the energy of one.

And I think I was someone once,

I do not remember - memories 

do not always bring home the lost,

and the embers that rise from flames

as a thousand new stars

will not offer warmth, instead

we weep oceans, and made

of salt, we ask again, finally,

for our mothers. 

 

 

Image is from here: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Birds_and_nature_(1903)_(14755300155).jpg

Video of Monarchs: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq3X60H7aBo

On Twitter: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monarch_Butterfly_Danaus_plexippus_Milkweed.jpg

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Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Being one who believes in reincarnation, I think the butterfly is a very good example of this reality. 

I don't think we're supposed to remember our past lives, I'm sure the Monarch butterfles don't remember theirs.

I think your poem describes this mystery and that's its charisma.

The video is absolutely amazing and captures the elegance of these butterflies in flight.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Jenny, was thinking of all our different selves over time. Am glad you liked it. The video is great, isn't it. Rachel:)

 

Submitted by marandina on

Those last few lines are just brilliant. Awesome poem, of course!

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Paul, really happy you enjoyed it. :)

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

If so much in a conciousness is inherent instinct, there must be connection with those sharing that instinct in the present, I like how you say "a surge of the energy of one" and maybe too with those who passed the instinct down. In such brief lives, the same pushes happen, the most important events and all that changes is outside?

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Yes, a kind of shared consciousness of the acting as one of a hive or nest of ants. Quite Jungian, very interesting to me. Thank you for reading it, happy you caught my thoughts. :)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

A beautiful, thoughtful meditation on the cycle of life - this is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day! Please do share/retweet if you enjoy it too.

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks so much airyfairy, that's very kind. Am very happy that you enjoyed it. :)