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 ,

[Eilis]

We planted beans this year and had just begun getting a harvest when a few days ago we discovered the plants were being eaten. Turns out a butterfly had laid eggs on all three plants and the plants were being eaten by tiny caterpillars.

We decided to let them have the plants, and I’m glad we did because they have now started the cocooning process. My daughter catalogs butterfly sightings. She’s a scientist in the making. So, we’ll get to see them go through their entire life stage and fly away in the end. And we won’t have any beans, but something more, in the end, I guess.

Your poem just made me think of this. I remember reading Robert Frost’s work in college where he was so distraught at the viciousness of nature. It can be vicious and destructive, but also so generous and beautiful. The odd thing seems to be that you cannot have the one without the other. It’s terrifying and fascinating at the same time.

I love the gentle build of your poem, Chris. The keen observations and your inviting us into the scene. It’s a beautiful poem, this.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Eilis. Thank you for your beautiful review. I really enjoyed your thoughts after reading my poem. I love that your daughter records butterfly sightings and your share about your bean plants and Robert Frost. I am always delighted to learn about the journey any reader travels when checking in on my poetry. So appreciative of your time and thoughts.

Chris

[Eilis]

You’re welcome, Chris. It’s an inspiring poem.

[Dave Brown]

Perhaps you can console yourself by thinking back to it's caterpillar stage and the fact that it ate 27000 times its own weight of your precious garden plants

[Chris Shaw]

Ha ha. That's certainly one way of looking at it. Somehow I don't associate those beautiful flutterbys with caterpillars which are like big maggots to me. A butterfly is a creature of great beauty, delicate and spiritual. Thanks for your visit Dave :)

[TheJordBaker]

Another lovely poem. The gift, beauty and harshness that is nature, told through great language as always.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jordan for your lovely response. Your thoughts always appreciated.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Sad, but nature is defined by inequality and the circle of life that for many is a brief flutter of delicate wings on a breeze. A sobering and descriptive write Chis from observing the toings and froings in your wet garden.

[Chris Shaw]

A very wet garden today John. Many thanks for checking this one out. Even a dead butterfly has much beauty.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

It was WET here in the Midlands too. Hopefully gardening today! Good Morning Chris!

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Good or bad,
Life gives it out,
No one can escape,
When it bring what it like,
Sometimes it hurts,
And sometimes it pleases us.
But life as a natural phenomenon,
Always gives what it has...

Well written, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Kay. The natural world often mirrors what is going on in the humsman world and I do believe you understood that in your response here and I agree it can be painful. Appreciating your insight.

Chris

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

You are welcome, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

I did mean human world Kay. Forgive the typo's. Been using my phone and it has a small screen :)

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

No worries, Chris.
I understand, I used to be a victim of that too.