I was walking out to clean the chicken coop when I spotted this butterfly on one of the eggplant flowers. What caught my attention was that this poor Swallowtail looked very tattered and battered. I assume it’s older and has weathered a few storms. Or perhaps it narrowly escaped a predator.
I took a few photos to capture the moment, but I also felt inspired to document the moment in words.
An old soul
Pausing on a flower to
Catch its breath
Wings like sails after a storm
Torn, but still functioning
Flittering from plant to plant
Until it lands one final time
Its work is done
It can rest.
Have you seen any butterflies lately?
RB
What a beautiful sight. Even with its worn wings, that swallowtail is a reminder of resilience and the quiet strength found in nature. Thanks for sharing this special moment.
My pleasure. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
The little creature looks ragged, for sure. Meanwhile, there are painted ladies and small white butterflies that appear in my yard. I hope to see some monarchs this year.
Sounds lovely, Swabby. Hope you can capture some photos of them to share. 🦋
I’ll see if any of them will cooperate. 🙂
Such imperfect beauty, well captured, Richard! 💞
That’s very kind of you, Dawn. Thank you, and I’m glad you enjoyed it. ❤️
Love your words Richard. Poor thing, hopefully he enjoys the last few days.
I appreciate the kindness, Wayne. If he stuck around my garden, he had a lot of flowers to spend his time with. 🌻
I love that for him 🤗
I love your poem!
Thank you so much, Luisa! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! ❤️
You are so very welcome my dear friend!
Poor butterfly has seen better days! I can relate. A beautiful capture of a moment in time, and perhaps the butterfly’s last meal. Your poem is lovely, Richard. I haven’t seen butterflies lately, but I saw few dragonflies.
I think we can all relate to this poor little creature, MM. The further we travel down our respective paths, the more worn we become! 🙂
Thank you for the compliment, my friend. I appreciate it. And please send some of those dragonflies my way!
In nature you see what it looks like to push through.
So very true, Jasper. Nature can be beautiful, but it can also take its toll. I think this butterfly is a perfect example of that.
I have a lot of empathy for faltering butterflies so I enjoyed reading your poem. I have seen two common butterflies here but I don’t know the names of them but I think the lava of one of them eats cabbages.
I did an art/ creative endeavour through a Jungian society course and the topic I chose was the metaphor of butterflies, their wings and metamorphosis. I think the tattered butterfly is a great metaphor too 🦋🐛
Ah, yes, the downside of butterflies is they lay eggs on my veggies, which turn into hungry little caterpillars! I tolerate them because their parents are so pretty. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and commenting, my friend. 🙂
You are welcome,
I tolerate them for the same reason. I’ve discovered nasturtiums are a good decoy and I don’t mind them eating those because they grow in abundance. 👋👋
Thank you for the tip! I’ll try to get some planted and see if that helps.
🌸🐛🐛🐛
They’re starting to emerge here in DC. Whenever I see a butterfly I whisper, “Thank you, Dan” to my beloved late husband. Thank you for reminding us that we are all imperfect, yet have something special to offer to others during our lives.
Oh, that’s a sweet and touching way to remember him, MissParker. And thank you for the kind words. I think imperfections are what make us all unique. 🦋
Beautiful poem. Have only butterflies in life’s prime. Thanks🐛🦋
Very kind of you, Pat. Thank you. 🙂
I love that you made a post about a “not so perfect” butterfly.
I’d imagine, if this one could human speech, it would have much wisdom to share.
And your poems portrays that perfectly!
I think the transformations of a butterfly are amazing.
But I think I would enjoy the cocoon stage the most 🤭
As for butterflies.. they have played a large role in my life.
I was raised with the South Eastern European superstition culture, which believes that seeing a yellow butterfly would assure you wouldn’t fail the school year.
So while I have always been too down to earth for superstitions, unconsciously, I always keep my eye open for a yellow butterfly. And it always makes me smile 🙂
I’ve never heard that superstition about the yellow butterfly, Andrea, but I like it! We all need a little good luck charm every now and then. 🦋
When I was very young, I’d keep caterpillars in glass jars with sticks and twigs so I could see them make their cocoons and eventually transform into their final forms. I miss that.
And thank you for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem. 🙂