For The Butterflies

For the Butterflies

I planted the Buddleia

for the butterflies.

They gorge on its feast

of full bosomed buds;

Flood to my garden

to enjoy this meal.

But it grew too free,

wanted to have its way

absorb all the spaces,

between.

It sprouted up towards

the sun

and out in every direction,

spreading its dominance

like a conquering army.

So as protector of this land

I rose up

and cut it down to size.

Scythed at its branches

hacked at its thick

four years of trunk.

So this year it sulked,

refusing to show itself,

withdrawn, depressed

and beaten.

But as I sit today,

chasing September sun,

perhaps the last of the year,

I observe the dormant

giant

now sprouting shoots

that promise

to display a new dawn,

in a new year

and I welcome it’s return.

 

22/09/12

Reviews

[Yheela]

Wow, intense!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Wow Yheela. Not heard from you in a long time. It was a real story of the buddleia in my garden lol. hope you are well. I am off to Halden for a week in February.

[Yheela]

Halden, that's almost in my backyard! ^_^
Nah, not really.
Been busy with work and uni, and I've only written stuff in Swedish (translated and published here now).
Had a good Christmas?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes had a lovely Christmas thanks, what about you? Have missed you lots on here.Halden is near to the Swedish border as you know. I am so looking forward to it but am told it will be cold!

[Yheela]

We had a lovely, peaceful, Christmas and New years.
Don't know about Halden in February, but we have +3C and rain at the moment.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yay! that will do me rather than snow and ice lol

[Dr Jude]

I LOVE this! I have Red Admirals on mine! And an offshoot on the roof.....

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you DR Jude. You are lucky to have Red Admirals. On the roof??

[Dr Jude]

Sadly yes.

[Geraldine]

Cleverly written. :)) I enjoyed reading it,

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Again Geraldine I am in your debt. Many thanks.

[Geraldine]

Debt? haha don't worry about it. :D

[Nicky Sarti]

Handsome, talented, funny and an able gardener; is there anything you can't do young sir?

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes find the right woman!!

[Nicky Sarti]

Maybe you do what I do; or have been accused of ~ looking in the wrong place/for the wrong person?

[Leigh]

Love Buddleias the are great, you are refering to Autumn months again - I like this unusual and interesting write very much......

[John Alexander McFadyen]

The reference to Autmn was simply because I was sitting in the garden at the weekend and saw the stump of the buddleia sprouting. Many thanks

[Leslie Philibert]

Fine poem that I like a lot, I don`t know what a Buddleia is, which shows how ignorant I am, but the kind of challenge I like. And the poem is excellent, like the way you set it out, good work.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Leslie, I am flattered that you have indulged me and read several of my pieces.

[sierrasparks91]

beautiful

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks

[Mia]

"But it grew too free,
wanted to have it’s way
absorb all the spaces,
between."
I love this poem. Apart from the lines i quoted the ending is my favourite. The idea that you know what’s coming and you’re ready. That you’ve learnt from experience and you’re confident that this time it WILL go better. That you’re confident enough to ‘welcome its return’.
In the second line of the lines I quoted, the it’s should be its…with no apostrophe.

[Cerise]

Wonderfully written as usual...beautifully described the whole process..:D

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much!

[Mark]

Life is tenacious! nice write.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Mark!