Painted Ladies

Cherry

By onemorething

Wed, 31 Jul 2019
  • 1634 reads
6 comments
 

Wafting maelstroms

on jet streams

in orange and black

descend in drifts

of winged tigers;

each in chemical connection,

in genetic relay

of biological baton passed

unseen, unknown. They dart

in propulsion to motion,

of unstoppable train

of unconsciousness 

and a delicacy that risks

the uncertainty of unforeseen

brutalities in its path

as the individual is lost

to the forces of the collective.

This fragility in urgent flight 

is a festival of Painted Ladies

who seem a vast innumerable,

but are counted one by one

by their anonymous admirers.

 

Image from pixabay.

 

 

 

Certificate U
Poem
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

It's a brilliant name for a butterfly isn't it? Loved this one, thank you onemore

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Yes it is, I watched a video yesterday of their mass landings on thistle flowers, in Hartlepool, I think it was. Mesmerising flutterings of them. Also a call for butterfly lovers to go out and count them, but I have no idea they count such a number. I was bought a book about butterflies when I was very young and have loved them ever since. I’m glad you liked it as I was a bit concerned I’d done the prettiness of them a disservice with overthinking. Thanks for the cherries too. :)

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I like this more and more each time I read it. I feel like I am stalking your ideas, though, as there was a flock on the buddleia outside. I don't remember seeing so many before. You convey the feeling of their indomitability/fragility really well, and their alien magic

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thank you, that’s very kind. And yes, lots of Painted Ladies because apparently there is a mass migration event that only happens once a decade or so perhaps that explains your buddleia flock. Stalk away, I stalked your summer ideas after all! And already I love that you’ve referred to them as a flock and their ‘alien magic’! Thanks for reading it. :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi onemorething,

can't believe I missed this beauty of a poem. As you say the migration of these butterflies has left me stunned at just how many I've seen in our garden. Just walking down the path they seem to be all around, though I have no idea how many.

This is a gorgeous poem and is a great tribute.

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks so much Jenny. I love butterflies and I guess one of the things that amazes me about the migrations is that they are multi-generational events and that unconscious biological process. And of course, they are so pretty. Thanks for reading it, glad you liked it. :)