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This butterfly now flutters by
and, on each wing, a giant eye
conceals she is a fragile soul
darting about you as you stroll
while trees and shrubs whisper and sigh.
She flutters low, flutters high,
then settles on a salsify.
You stop and watch, getting to know
this butterfly.
What flower, though, can ever tie
her wings to Earth? When blossoms dry
and flowers fade and grasses grow
and birds give up their noisy show,
she’ll leave with the breezes of July—
this butterfly.
This poem first appeared in an issue of Better Than Starbucks.
Used here with permission.
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Martin J. Elster lives in Hartford, Connecticut. He was, for many years, a percussionist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. In addition to playing and composing music, Martin finds contentment in long walks in the woods or the city and in writing poetry, which often alludes to creatures and plants he encounters on his walks. Martin’s poems have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies in the U.S. and abroad. A full-lenth collection, Celestial Euphony, was published by Plum White Press in 2019.
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Adriana:
Beautiful first and third verses; for my taste, the first two lines of the second verse could stand alone or be part of the third verse and the last two lines of the second verse could be omitted. I love the rhyming and the rhythm throughout, moving a bit like a butterfly, as someone commented below.
Posted 05/03/2023 06:43 PM
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Anastasia:
A lovely interlude in a hectic day! Thank you, Martin!
Posted 05/03/2023 03:39 PM
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Lori Levy:
Captures the nature of a butterfly.
Posted 05/03/2023 01:54 PM
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CamilleBalla:
She flutters low, flutters high
a lovely closeup of the butterfly
with very good rhythm and rhyme.
Posted 05/03/2023 12:33 PM
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paradea:
Lovely!!
Posted 05/03/2023 11:40 AM
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Wilda Morris:
A lovely Rondeau! Thanks for sharing it.
Posted 05/03/2023 10:31 AM
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David:
Very nice. Thoughtful and with good imagery and construction.
Posted 05/03/2023 10:26 AM
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KevinArnold:
Wonderful how this poem uses tome with now and July.
Posted 05/03/2023 10:11 AM
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Michael:
Congratulations on writing a fine poem, Martin, one which is, in itself, a butterfly!
Posted 05/03/2023 09:01 AM
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Darrell Arnold:
I like the use of rhyming to tell this story, especially the rhyming that ties verse to verse. I have yet to see a butterfly, but I have seen a hummingbird moth. What an intriguing creature! His avian counterparts have been here a couple weeks, already. I love them all.
Posted 05/03/2023 08:30 AM
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