Like a Drunken Butterfly

~ odd things happen during the Santa Ana winds ~

“It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch” Raymond Chandler

 

A blistering summer afternoon

 scented of peaches,

                 plump with fragrance,

sweetening the yesterday’s sweeping the shores of my eyelids…

The day should be ripe with possibilities

 

So, why do I feel anxious…misplaced…perhaps a bit “out of sorts”?

 

The glittering sun shares a wink, as if he holds the secret

but surely the wind must know,

this dry, hot wind, born in the desert

breathing through a pastel sky

as restless as the unspoken words

playing hide and seek with the hillflowers,

                   withering in the July heat…

 

And stronger still

as the trees moan and the howl rises

teasing my hair, tickling my cheek,

rustling my wings…

                  and at once I’m spinning

 as uncontrolled as the zephyr

 twirling, twisting

 wild,

                                 feral, untamed

                                and unable to focus

                  yet content in my vertigo

flying towards the unknown

like a drunken butterfly heading to its next fermented flower

 

Yes, let the summer air set me free…

for beautiful paths cannot be discovered without getting a little lost

Author's Note

art ~ Lauri Blank
poetry ~ MsJewel

Reviews

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Julie... a butterfly out of control... high on the scent of peach snappes... the day ripe with possibillities. I have been in a peach orchard ... where heaven was in the air with rustling wings... wild and untamed.. flying to my next fermented flower. A breathless poem that settled in my heart.
truly, Pat

[MsJewel]

Your lovely comments always leave me with a smile :) Julie

[Najam Us Saher]

Descriptive enough to create an imagery and to make the words more profound. These two elements contributed to make this poem more effective.

[MsJewel]

Thank you :) Julie

[Najam Us Saher]

You're welcome. ☺

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Whimsical, descriptive yet philosophic. This flows in gentle pastel winds of words, just as you describe, and the emotions of feeling unsettled by life and yet being optimistic. Nice read!

[MsJewel]

Thanks so much John :) Julie

[Abraham George]

you are very talented and i am eager to read your more beautiful poetry.

[MsJewel]

You are very kind. Thanks so much for the lovely comment and compliment. :) Julie

[Abraham George]

its my pleasure to read your writings.

[Falcon1]

This all Beautifully makes a lot of sense. An Insects Blessings.Or so to speak of.

[MsJewel]

Thank you for understanding my scribbles! :) Julie

[Davidgeo]

"sweetening the yesterday’s sweeping"
I really like that phrase.
also... "content in my vertigo"

It's a beautiful disaster in word.

Good thing it's summer, this would almost be depressing otherwise.

[MsJewel]

Thank you :) Julie