Ode to a Butterfly

Forested devastation….
The beauty of the butterfly
Cannot flutter in the wind
Everything degrades in the end
Flower and filth and fluoride
All alike in her bountiful belly
Of earth and stone and hellfire….

Amid cactus blooms and concrete
Chemical stains and contours
What is the greater truth?
What is beauty?
What if we built a better butterfly?

Reviews

[Desert Dreamer]

Your poem brings to mind the destruction of the natural world and the genetic engineering of plants and animals. It is my opinion that we can't build a better butterfly, just like we can't build a better cotton plant, soybean or any natural living thing. I think those pesticides we have built into the genetics of these plants are causing health problems as are the pesticides sprayed onto our many farms. There is no outdoing nature in its beauty and usefullness. I prefer a real butterfly as I prefer a real vegetable and as much as I love the knowledge and science behind the engineered food, I reject it, I reject all of it and return back to nature. And there is no true way to judge how these changes will effect the world, we are all part of the same world and what is done in one place to one living thing in the end effects us all.

This poem is very powerful and well written. I could write an entire essay concerning my reaction. You have done very well, you poem deserves to be printed in a collection of environmental related poetry.

[Miss Coral]

Love this- the message is extremely powerful, while subtle and gentle at the same time. The last question especially hit hard, and I kind of what, "Wow. That was good. That was really really good," before I was able to scroll down to the comment box. :)
The little rhyme scheme you built up was excellent- I generally detest consistent rhyming in poetry, but your seemed to make the words just... fit. Rather than dominate them or anything, it just pulled them all in tighter and made the flow perfect. Great job. c:

Personally, I'm terrible at using subtlety in my writing, but you obviously excel- excellent piece.

-Coral-

[Art Sun]

Nice poem...comparisons of the present reality with the existence of a butterfly...they have been around for so long and now live with us and these everyday progressions...

nice...

[PianoandPage]

i love this question. your ending is poignant and powerful.

it is all beautiful and jumbled and contrasting and chaotic and.... just is.

i love your poem. it has some really great alliteration and imagery.

[Angelalala]

i was instantly drawn to this by the word "butterfly" but this is nothing at all what i expected. dark, thoughtful, perspective. i love the line "everything degrades in the end". so much truth in this piece. a deep, gritty and beautiful piece. i love the images, both beautiful and dark.

[Coyote Poetry]

When I was young. I would see so many butterflies. Now here in Michigan they are rare and few. It is honor and pleasure to see a butterfly now. That is very sad. Your poem told a sad and true story. A excellent poem.
Coyote

[tynamite]

I like butterflies. I believe white ones bring good luck. This is great. I've favourited it.

[Tony]

You create number of stark and captivating contrasts here from top to bottom. Tied together with the thought provoking questions in the end. Makes you wonder.

[.]

. oh gosh ... this is an epic write ... i cannot begin to tell you how your words just got embossed on my core ... your profound thoughts are compelling ... and the instances of alliteration enhance this write amazingly ... particularly in the fifth and sixth lines respectively ... your quest for beauty couldn't have come at a better time ... spectacular poetry ... potent, powerful and immensely thought provoking ...