When The Bough Breaks

my garden gifts me, unwanted
on a grey summer day

grief a blue butterfly
whose fragile frame is broken

i am crushed for wings that will not fly
on the warmth of a golden slumber

or settle on the overhanging spikes
of sweet scented buddleia

i turn to nature to soothe my mind
to find answers where there are none

this is not about me nor you
it is about she who rocks the cradle

for she is unable to grow strength
to slay the everyday of her nemesis.

Reviews

[Stuart Munro]

I wrote a poem and song called a Butterfly is rescued , I worked at the national trust , a butterfly was trapped by a window , I put a drinking glass over it , and rescued it , and set it free , I’d captured its beauty , and for how ever long it lived , after , some human would enjoy his or her view of that butterfly
Your poem ,your butterfly is not so lucky , it’s beauty of its prime will not be shared , sadly ,

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Stuart for that lovely share of how you saved the butterfly. How wonderful to have worked for the national trust. It is a beautiful mourning. Make sure you enjoy it. All the best.

Chris

[Stuart Munro]

Thanks Chris , Pleased you enjoyed my poem song and I enjoyed your poem ,Good news I saw a. Hospital consultant this morning , and my 7 tumours have all shrunk by half , carrying on with chemo
Have a Great Day

[Chris Shaw]

That is great news Stuart. Yes, carry on with the poison. It is working. Just look at how I’ve spelled morning. Excuse my earlier errors. Thank you, the day is good so far.

[Stuart Munro]

Thanks Chris , haveca Great day

[Stuart Munro]

Morning Chris , Thursday , I spelt have wrong , its easily done , typing on here , have a great day ,

[Patricia Wedel]

A butterfly with a broken wing is like a Mother with a
broken heart. She settles on a Buddleia butterfly bush
to gain strength in her wings, but her Nemesis wins...
there was a time that "the hand that rocks the cradle
rules the world"... however Mothers blend into a prayer
when skies are grey. Amen

[Chris Shaw]

What beautiful thoughts you have Pat. Your responses are always delightfully poetic and a joy to read. Thank you for your welcome visit.

Chris

[Chris]

Time MAY limit (even ...slow) our actions but seldom our "thoughts". But finding our selves ...alone... pauses even a strong heart.

[Chris Shaw]

So right a strong heart may pause to reflect when alone and dig deep. Thanks Chris.

[Lydia Shutter]

Many years ago, there was a commercial on TV for a margarine and it said, "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!" How true that was and your words made me think of it. Mother Nature is abused daily and her wrath is bitter. The image of a butterfly with a shattered wing is heartbreaking. Your love of nature is always shining between the lines of your poetry, Chris. Lydi**

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Lydi** for your lovely review and sharing your thoughts. Your visits always appreciated.

Chris

[augustus]

I'm not really into poetry. However, I can understand your efforts and I like them! Thank you Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Augustus it pleases me no end that you not being a poetry lover, would still find it rewarding to visit my page. I thank you for that :)
Poetry grows on you, you know.

Chris

[augustus]

It's been my pleasure. Thanks.

[andrew mitchell]

A lovely profound poem Chris, yes we can abuse Mother nature but in the end she will have the last laugh for crossing her. A simple case of respect or fall!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Andrew for your visit. Yes, nature has to be respected.

Chris

[Samuel Dickens]

Everyone below says it better than I can, but I want you to know that your sense of love and caring come through strong in this poem. Surely the sorrows we experience in life will be set right in the end. If not in this world, the next.

[Chris Shaw]

Sam that is a lovely review. I love and care a great deal, especially where nature and my family are concerned. I thank you for noticing that in my lines.

Chris

[Ted Kniffen]

Parents want so much for their kids, but in the end the child must slay their own dragons...we can be back-up, but even that is not always welcome. Still, there is no comfort to be had for the minds and hearts of either side.

A good write, Chris. Hopefully everything works out in the end.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Ted, we have so much concern for our kids and my only daughter has huge health problems which are debilitating. I support here as much as I can, but the sadness is always there. Appreciate your review.

Chris

[Lorry]

This echoes with the ache of being a mother Chris., in times when you look on helplessly and hope they take flight. We all know how delicate those wings are to the newly released, which is why I suppose, it would be good advice to give them to take off from the ground first and not the top of the highest building. And let me tell you, that hurts a lot. I'm still not fully recovered. 😀

[Chris Shaw]

Lorry, you got this. When I saw the broken butterfly I was reflecting on the sad life of my daughter., now plagued with ill health. Yes it was about the ache of being a mother.
Thank you for checking this one out.

Chris

[Lorry]

The one job you never retire from.

[Chris Shaw]

Spot on. Life long job Lorry. Good morning.

[Lorry]

Morning. It's bright and clear here this morning. Makes a change from the rain. I might not even need my canoe to go to the shops today. I think we ran out of clouds, a first for Scotland 😀

[Chris Shaw]

We have had endless rain here as well Lorry, but this morning it is looking bright. So heavy the drains couldn't cope with it and I found we had a lake in our garden and had to wade through in wellies to get to the dustbin. Oh alright you sussed me out you know I'm a kid at heart and enjoyed that. Anyways have a good week-end.

[Lorry]

You too 😀

[Julie McCarthy (juliesp..]

this is beautiful Christine I really enjoyed this read!

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks for reading and leaving your thoughts Julie. Most appreciated.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

wow i went totally somewhere else with this piece, Chris.
allegorical...not a butterfly but a person with a wounded heart...giving up, broken...no longer able to fly with dignity...wanting to go back into the cocoon...all the beauty around her...but she is unable to appreciate it anymore...even nature cannot soothe the broken soul.
beautiful poem.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

You went where I went Jacob. When I wrote this, I was thinking about my daughter. Poetry is of course subjective but you interpreted my thoughts perfectly. Thank you.

Chris