The Butterfly

LO V E is a broken wing’ed butterfly
awaiting death.

The lost hope of love with broken wings.

The last song sung broken by morning clouds
that flies into the sun

Forgetting scents and colors
no gale nor strong storm

but by careless flittering across the vast
field of life

As I watched and felt ~~ she fell into a vast
verdue and succumbed into Eternal Love
Yet – never – in Extremity,
Yet she gave the World Hope – and of me.

:: 10.18.2023 ::

ANALYSIS:

In “THE BUTTERFLY,” the poet crafts a poignant reflection on love and its transient nature. The poem delicately explores the fragility of love through the metaphor of a broken-winged butterfly, a symbol of beauty, transformation, and vulnerability.

The use of space and punctuation, such as the scattered words and broken lines, creates a sense of visual fragmentation, mirroring the fragmented state of the butterfly’s wing and the shattered hope of love. The poem opens with a striking declaration: “LO V E is a broken wing’ed butterfly / awaiting death.” This line encapsulates the central theme of love’s vulnerability, suggesting that love, like a wounded butterfly, is delicate and ephemeral, with its demise inevitable.

The imagery of the “last song sung broken by morning clouds” and the butterfly flying “into the sun” evoke a sense of tragic beauty and inevitability. The poem portrays love as a fleeting moment, a fragile melody that is easily shattered. The mention of “Forgetting scents and colors / no gale nor strong storm” emphasizes the absence of external forces; instead, it is the butterfly’s own “careless flittering across the vast / field of life” that leads to its downfall. This highlights the self-destructive tendencies that can sometimes accompany love.

The poem takes a surprising turn towards the end, as the poet observes the butterfly’s fall into “Eternal Love.” This paradoxical phrase suggests a transcendence, a transformation of the ephemeral into something eternal. The butterfly, in its fleeting existence, becomes a symbol of hope for the world and for the poet. This transformation signifies the enduring power of love, even in its fragile and transient state. The poet’s personal connection to this transformation is hinted at in the lines: “Yet – never – in Extremity, / Yet she gave the World Hope – and of me.” Here, the poet acknowledges the profound impact of this fleeting moment of love, which, despite its brevity, leaves a lasting impression on both the world and the poet’s soul.

Overall, “THE BUTTERFLY” captures the essence of love’s fragility and its ability to inspire hope even in the face of impermanence. The poem’s imagery, use of language, and emotional depth make it a powerful reflection on the complexities of love, demonstrating the poet’s mastery in conveying profound truths through poetic artistry.