Butterflies
“Poetry gives permanence to the temporal forms of the self.”
Miguel de Unamuno.
That is what my writing is all about,
those temporal forms, fluttering and changing.
Butterflies, they live for a day or two,
perch and flourish, spread their wings,
excel for a moment, catch my attention,
then blown by a sudden gust of wind,
they tear their wings on a thorn
and perish in the blink of an eye.
Reborn in ditches, they cluster and gather,
congregate, black and yellow, on bees’ balm,
smother Cape Daisies and Black-eyed Susans.
Like shadows they shimmer, butterflies by day,
fireflies by night, terrestrial stars, lost, wandering,
floating in their forest firmament, hackmatack,
black oak, bird’s eye maple, silver birch, fir …
Impermanence surrounds us, dances beneath stars,
sings with robins, echoes the owl’s cry through woodlands,
poetry, the elemental soul, our words capturing nothing,
turning it into eternity, holding it for the briefest moment,
then letting it go. Island View, New Brunswick, Canada,
my home in the woods, my dialog with my place and time.
rogermoorepoet 
What a pleasure this is to read…the images of butterflies, terrestrial stars and the links to our thoughts and poems…and touching down on your place in this time in the last verse…
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Thanks, Janice. I love the butterfly photo, too. That was Clare in the garden with the camera!
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That is a wonderful photo…a fantastic shot of a beautiful butterfly…I haven’t seen one like that here.
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They may be local to NB. We call them swallow tails, I think.
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I agree! This is a perfect and beautiful description of writing (especially poetry). The capturing of a thought or a fleeting moment and putting in words, which to the reader, each interprets in their own personal way. It’s really quite magnificent, isn’t it?
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Hi, Meg: you had better know (by e-mail) what books I am sending you. I haven’t forgotten, but I have been procrastinating! Hence my poem.
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No worries, Roger! I understand! Summer is always busy. Whoever decided that there were ‘lazy days’ of summer? I’m spinning like a top half the time!
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Avoiding the raindrops yesterday: it poured all day, and did we ever need some rain. Much fresher this morning, but it will soon sauna up!
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That is good news for the fire fighters. We’ve finally got a stretch of nice weather for the next few days – this has been a strange summer with lots of rain and fluctuating temperatures!
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We needed the water so badly. And yes, the woods were all carrying red warnings. They’ll be a great deal safer now.
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Roger: This is brilliant: “our words capturing nothing, turning it into eternity” Thank you. -j
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
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From the lady who gave me the carving on my cover picture and the quote that I love so much … thank you … you perch like a butterfly on my choicest words!
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