Torment

(make of it what you will)

butterflies in exquisite emperor

clothed perfection pinned inside

a mahogany display case

for the whole of the world to view

instead of seeing them chase 

rainbows

for the whole of the world to choose

to experience the beauty of tiny

creatures with their delicate

features now out of breath, dead

confined to museums

my inner child recalls the shock

as heart took a direct hit pondering

why anyone would wish to see

cruel demise of flutterbys born for

happy flight

out of my garden, i held one close

crushed almost beyond recognition,

fading before my eyes, i wept inside

with despair but with rare insight and 

fine timing, i caught her, glimpsed

into her soul and saw her torment

Reviews

[iliOZ]

i am with you Chris, too bad most of us don't count the birds and bees, vegetation and ultimately us, humans.
i wonder what humans in ... well 5000 years from now stumble upon your poem in a digital cemetery, would they even know what a butterfly is?
like i started, i am with you by trying to convince others with my actions and my words

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you iliOZ, I appreciate your thoughts and your visit.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

You have a certain style in your work, very raw your words so acute and to the point, either you learn or fight for what you'll never have just to gain from those who have, good write I enjoyed the read.
Thank you for sharing.

[Mauricio Montoya]

Thank you Chris

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mauricio. I appreciate very much your thoughts here. Pleased that you enjoyed this older poem.

Chris

[Mauricio Montoya]

Well it's a good write but it was the title that got my attention, Excellent write.

[Neville]

I know & can feel exactly how and where you are coming from .. it pains me to see anything pinned or taxidermified .. man is indeed a curios creature .. and as a matter of fact, I feel so strongly about the topic in question wrote my own version many years ago .. This one is miles better tho .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

The longer I live the more I feel and see the suffering of creatures on this planet. It is so wrong to cage anything, worse still to kill it. So pleased you too feel the same way and have even written of it yourself. Thank you for finding this older poem and giving it some life Neville.

Chris

[Neville]

An absolute pleasure. Neville

[Einstein Noodle]

oh my goodness, Christine. i am one the releases most bugs that find there way into the cabin .. but your poem reminds me of my Grand Uncle Frank ... i was probably 7 or 8 yrs old but remember our visit to him and his butterfly collection .. which is thought was so cool ... we spent a long time looking at them .. i feel guilty now ... thanks a lot :)))))))) my brother in law, among other things is a bug collector and has an expansive collection. He even has a beetle, he discovered on an expedition in New Guinea (i think) with the Smithsonian ... its odd because he releases all bugs held captive within his home .. ones i would not touch ... like the monster black spider that sent Norma flying :) i love you poem and the heart it displays ... closing deeply affects me .. to look with such intensity and appreciation for that life .. i want to be like that .. like Buddhist monks ... profound write says i!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Sorry for making you feel guilty Mr E :) I find it hard to kill anything, much preferring to transport it outside the home into the garden. My granddaughter is something else. A bit of a squasher is she, given the chance. Nan to the rescue. The fuss if a spider ventures indoors is a treat to witness. All except me go into hysterics. I think our own Buddhist monk gave a wasp that stung him, more than a headache recently. Peace by with you. We are all back in lockdown.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

arrrrrrrrrrrrgh the lock down ... errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr >;[ your Granddaughter is a squasher eh?! what a riot .. i can just see her .. so cute ;) yeah..the Buddhist and the wasp .. or the gnat swarm ... hmmmmmmm maybe stuff for a next poem :)))))))))))))))))

[Chris Shaw]

You know I love that Irish sense of humour with a little twinkle in the eye. Used to see it on my travels to Dublin and Belfast. Do miss it so. Gnat Attack, what a great title for a poem. Those little blighters can cause so much damage in numbers :)))

[Einstein Noodle]

oh they are so gnatsty :))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
(that was bad wasn't it?!) ;}

[Laz K.]

This poem reminds me of Poe's "Sonnet to Science" which also laments the fact that science takes the wonder and magic out of life and gives back dry facts - or pinned down butterflies in this case.
It's tragic indeed, but luckily we have poetry and the other arts to counterbalance the cold, calculating, cruel aspects of our species.

[Chris Shaw]

We need that balance don't we Laz. Yes, poetry can certainly provide that when the occasion arises. Thanking you for a second visit. I appreciate your time.

Chris

[Pete]

the innocence of a little girl and a part of creation. morphed caterpillars with wings. they have always fascinated me - those beautiful, unusual colors and patterns. i think when we were little we tried to catch them and keep them in jars but it never worked. you have a unique way of weaving wonderful heartfelt memories and magnifying the seemingly mundane - takes a keen eye and receptive heart. as i always say, this is where the good stuff of life hides. i too am tormented when any of creation meets its demise. your ending really tugs directly at heartstrings. well done, top-notch write ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Pete. Thank you so much for this lovely and welcome review. You too suffer the same way I do with the demise of creatures. Soft hearted us. Yes, it goes back a long time. Always good to see you.

Chris

[Intothemilkyway]

Such a well made poem seeing and looking out for the little things in life.
Despair and happiness in one tiny creature.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Into the milky-way. Appreciate your thoughts here. All good things.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Butterflies are meant to be free, not tormented and put into a museum for the world to see. I remember going to a stunning butterfly garden where they flit around land on flowers and and sit on your palms; how delicious was that? I also have seen wounded butterflies which make my heart flutter as they have no chance of flight and will inevitably die. You describe this so well with the flow of your words. Nicely done Chris.
Best, Betty

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Betty thank you for calling in and for sharing your views. Much appreciated. Take care now.
read moreDear Betty thank you for calling in and for sharing your views. Much appreciated. Take care now.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Of course, Best

[Chris Shaw]

That read more gliche is back. Comes up automatically. So rude Betty :) Please ignore

[Betty Hermelee]

no worries, I get it too!!!

[Ayesha]

All of us enjoy the sight of the fluttering beauty. I once watched a documentary on how these butterflies are caught, pinched, dried and pinned for preservation. It was a very unfascinating and a tormenting view. That time is not far when the only butterflies available for view will be the ones "preserved".

[Chris Shaw]

That is a dreadful thought Ayesha. I am pleased I didn't watch the same programme that you did. Many thanks for your thoughts and your visit.

Chris

[Fairy Khan]

I have never understood the need to kill and showcase even those creatures which we can see in their natural habitat. This is indeed another one of the damned "need" of the humans to display their superiority.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Fairy. It really does highlight the worse side of our species doesn't it? I appreciate your thoughts. Take care poet.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

I have no explanation for why people like to kill and display exotic creatures. There must be some type of ego reward to it, but I am at a loss to name what it is. If I had to guess, I might say it has something to do with control.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. I have no idea either, except to say I find it upsetting and totally unnecessary. An abuse on the part of the human species who can't live side by side in harmony with other creatures on this planet. Appreciate your visit.

Chris