Her little legs
pumping for all they're worth
through the dandelions and wheat grass
her hair is curling from the heat
from the effort
Little one, why do you run so fast
Because the fairies told me to
Her curls bounce
just above the overgrowth on the horizon
swinging her butterfly net with all her might
her laughter ringing through the fields
Little one, you'll scare them before you catch them
But the fairies told me to
She stops in her tracks
her scream brings us all to our feet
stumbling down the stairs
fearful of what awaits
Little one, why do you cry
Because the fairies told me to
In her hand, motionless
powdery wings still
the body of a butterfly
makes her heart break
and we would not be human
if our hearts didn't break too
She takes a tear drop from her eye
reflecting back rainbows as it dangles
from the tip of her tiny finger
over the lifeless form
Little one, why do you do that
she sniffs
she snuffs
and let's the tear drop fall
the butterfly rises
from her cherub palm
into the wildflowers
because the fairies told me to.
A bit of truth to this tale (as indicated by the picture) and I thought it a perfect companion to Karin's prompt over at Poetics today. We're talking about the unexpected...and when that little butterfly flew away after Ava's mauling...I figured there was magic happening somewhere! Join us over at dVerse and share your own unexpectedly poetic moment.
17 comments:
A poignant post, Tash. Agh. Kids don't know how to figure things out (and must excuse them, or it woudl be too painful,) Well done. k.
Ah, we definitely would not be human if our hearts did not break over the death of a butterfly. You have also captured the 'magic' of childhood here. Love this poem.
aawww nice...beautiful magic in this...she must have been overhappy as that little butterfly flew away...great pic as well..she's lovely
Poignant, beautiful, tender and one very intuitive little girl.
I;m so glad the little butterfly was able to fly away. It must have seemed like a little bit of magic too, to Ava. :)
beautiful. just beautiful.
magic and the innocence of a child...it is beautiful...i think they are far more akin to the magic than we are you know...and they listen far better for it...a wonderful scene and verse tash...
a beautiful poem...captures the magic so well!!!
enchanting!
♥
Again, you leave me speechless.
very cute
but it leaves me wondering where she ever heard about fairies -- cartoon, movie, stories at home?
A poignant peace indeed.
It is alive with magic and I felt a great relief as the butterfly flew off. It works as a narrative but also an allegory. Thank you again for your words, it is a bit of magic to feel less alone, to be accepted when telling the traumas.
It certainly is magic--and I'm sure it seemed so to Ava! I really enjoyed what you came up with based on the experience--your piece has a great flow to it and is balanced nicely between the child and the adult voices.
A wonderful post, Tash!
Brought back childhood memories of me and my cousins burying a dead butterfly with mourning for it.
Thankfully in Ava's case the magic of her tears brought the butterfly back to life :)
Just beautiful.
A wonderfully sad poem.
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