They’ve invaded – the butterflies
Drunk on thistles, the bounty of rain
Small as half a broken egg shell
The ordained compass of Painted Ladies
Flitting o’er fields, creeks, chaparral
Darting along air flight highways,
From the Mexico-California border
Migrating to the Pacific Northwest
Be still, they approach in silence
Their mission to journey north
For the sake of their future tribe
Flounced wings, orange and charcoal
Black-eyed scales of outside pennants
Guarding the route of tiny gypsies
If only they could guard those below
The ones on knee, in chants, in prayer
What crusted his heart with toxic hate
Who gave him the bullets and the gun
How turn holy words to curse and lie,
Why assault the gates of church, temple,
Synagogue, mosque, sacred ground
The fluttering echo of God on Earth
Ravaged by a beast who never paused
To see the holy gesture of butterflies
My heart goes out to the family and friends of those who were murdered in Christchurch, New Zealand; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Charleston, South Carolina; Oak Creek, Wisconsin; and the many places of worship where innocent people have been attacked by terrorists who will not recognize the spark of God within all human life.
In honor of the innocents who were killed, I will not remember the names of the terrorists nor their hateful twist of words.
Just a thought 69
Painted Lady butterfly photos courtesy of Pixabay and Wikipedia
Comments on: "A Gesture of Butterflies" (28)
A beautiful gesture, Sharon. I have no words…
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Thank you, Marina. I struggled with this one. My rage nearly took me down.
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Why do humans always have a need to slaughter each other? So depressing…
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I can think of excuses but none of them are valid. Very depressing. Fortunately, not all people feel such hatred for others.
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Yes, there are good people in this world, happily
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I love the defiant and compassionate spirit in which you wrote this beautiful poem. Thank you, Sharon.
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Thank you for reading it, Paul.
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I just read a great children’s book by Martha Reynolds about Monarch butterflies. This is perfect!
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How interesting, Jacqui.
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This is a beautiful tribute, Sharon. Lovely in every way. ❤️
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Thank you, Charlie.
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A beautiful ode to butterflies, Shari! Their beauty and inspiration is needed in our fallen world.
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Thank you, Terri. Much appreciated.
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This is a very beautiful tribute to those who suffered, Shari. All our lives are as fleeting and delicate as butterfly wings – but just as beautiful too.
I’m with you in not remembering the names of the ones responsible for all the deaths, pain and hatred. It’s worrying that that man in New Zealand plans to defend himself in court and thus will be heard.
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I know what you mean, Sarah. If the courts are wise, they won’t let the trial be televised and will limit public access. What seems to be a local problem is of universal concern.
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awfulness that defies words — perhaps there’s a good metaphor in bunches of them migrating north from Mexico – called something like pink somethings?
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Pink is too sweet a word for such violent horror as in New Zealand. As for the butterflies – they’re indifferent to human craziness.
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thank goodness NZ has a great leader
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A truly admirable person. Wish someone around here would take notice but we all know it’s a lost cause.
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was going to say same… alas… the other day I saw a bumper sticker that said something like ‘sleeping till 2020’
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Funny, except I don’t think we can sleep till 2020 – what will be left?
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A truly moving post, Sharon. Thank you for your presence and your voice in this world.
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That is such a lovely thing to say. Thank you, Betty.
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This is beautiful. Thank you so much Sharon.
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I wish for a different ending. Thank you for reading it, Su.
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Incredible writing, beautiful tribute
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Thank you.
I see you binge read blogs as I often do.
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hehehe yeah I really do
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