Butterfly flying about the colonial garden. Whitall House, Red Bank Battlefield. ©️Merril D. Smith, 2020
Look, there!
A butterfly
flits from bloom to bloom, she
flaps her wings, and you stand still
watching–
thus, missing the snake in the grass
who slithers by unseen.
No step, no bite-
random
changes,
chaos theory,
nothing predetermined–
the comet races by, but still
you see
the comma tail, inviting a
sequence. What will come next?
So, you wonder,
what if?
A snake slithered across the path in front of me at Red Bank Battlefield Park.
I decided to have a bit of fun with Colleen’s poet choice challenge,which must be some sort of syllabic poetry. I wrote a double butterfly cinquain to joke about the butterfly effect. 😏
I’m also linking this to dVerse’s Open Link Night, which of course, was last night, but that’s how I roll these days.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Very clever and intriguing poem. It’s written marvelously.
Thank you so much, Lucy!
Better late than never 🙂 That was one of the snakes that sidle away when I walk around this place, I recognise it. And the comet. That popped up this morning for me. And of course, we wonder, what if?
Of course we do–and the comet was for you, since I didn’t see it. 😀
Aw thank you 🙂 I looked for it last night, thought it might still be around, but couldn’t see it any more.
Yes, I think it’s gone back to some other part of space.
We know it’s there, even if we can’t see it.
Yes, exactly! Like we can hear the moon humming, even when it’s cloudy.
The wind reminds us, and the owls.
Yes, they do.
😉
Very glad you shaped your poem like a butterfly. I hate snakes! 🙂
Hahaha. You’re welcome.
Maybe it is shaped like two beautiful undulating snakes? dunno 😉
Ugh…in my perception….and I realize others don’t feel as I do…seeing the trail of a snake (in the shape of words or on the ground) is…yech!!!!! 😳🙃😳
A butterfly is probably a more interesting shape for a poem. 😏
💁🏻♀️☺️
In the eye of the beholder, I suppose. 😏
Glad the butterfly distracted you from the snake … yikes!! I hate snakes too! Guess the butterfly deserved to be honored in the poem! Well done.
Thank you, Beverly. I actually saw the butterfly and snake on different days, and in different locations at the park. I just put them together for the poem. I don’t hate snakes. It was actually kind of cool to see how fast it could move across the sidewalk and into the grass.
I adore this poem, and the humour with which it was executed. (I hope I understood correctly. I’m not versed on verse)
Neat that your tonight was last night. My today was yesterday. You’re fun!
I’m sure you got the humor, Resa. It wasn’t anything too profound. 😏. I think I lost you on the days though.
Oh…. Let me reread!
Brilliant! I loved the double butterfly cinquain. You got some great photos, as well. Yikes… the snake. I would have screamed like the girl, I am! 😀 ❤
Thank you, Colleen! The photos were from different days, but I all is fair in poetry. 😏. I thought the snake was kind of cool. I didn’t know they could move so quickly. But I’d freak out if I saw a snake in the house–or one that I knew was poisonous.
You definitely caught some great photos. I loved your poetry as well. ❤
Thank you! 😀
You are a clever one, Merril!
And one prefers to see a snake before accidentally stepping on it!
Thank you, and yes indeed. This particular snake was moving across the sidewalk path in front of me, so I could easily have stepped down on him.
That would have been disconcerting – for both of you!
🤣🤣
😉🐍
I love how your mind works sometimes, Merril. This was great! Yesterday, we had the most gorgeous butterfly visit our patio garden. I got some great videos and photos. She returned today, so I’ve named her Bonnie. 🙂 I’ll try to remember to share her on Instagram. Enjoy the weekend!
Thank you very much, Jill. That’s so kind. I do have some odd thoughts and make some weird connections. I’m glad you enjoy them. 😀That’s very cool about your butterfly!
We can only embrace the chaos (while of course keeping a lookout for snakes). Delightful. (K)
Thanks so much, Kerfe!
did it offer you any fruit? If it did, let the juice run down your chin, might as well. You made me smile this morning Merril. who knows what havoc me smiling will unleash on the cosmos today. 🙂
Your comment made me smile, Lona. Nope, this snake was more afraid of me, than I was of it. I didn’t know snakes could move so fast! I hope you only unleash good things upon the cosmos today.
So far so good🤷🏻♀️
What if, indeed 🙂
Thank you, Derrick. 😀
This took an unexpectedly dark turn. I was all set to revel in the sight of the butterfly. 🙂 Damn that snake in the grass!
Hahaha. But it went on to space and comets, Liz!😀
😀 True, but they weren’t enough for me to unsee that snake!
🤣🤣
You may have lost me on the days, but I adore the poem. It was great to read it again!
If I was out there watching a butterfly, I would have missed the snake, for sure!
Thanks so much, again! They were really different days and different paths at the park, but it would be easy, I imagine, to not pay attention . . .😏
…. but I can spot a piece of street art half a mile away. Where’s my mind at? 😀
Hahaha. When we got a bit lost a few weeks ago, I saw a man working on a mural on an underpass wall. I took a photo through the windshield and around my husband–while he was trying to figure out where to go.
Ohh, is it a nice one? Are you going to post it?
I played with the photo a bit, so not too awful. It was in this post–maybe about halfway through: https://merrildsmith.wordpress.com/2020/07/20/backstories/
The unseen randomness of nature’s Universe, brought down to earth and packaged so nicely. Well done.
Thank you so much, Bill!
You’re welcome.
Clever play. 😊
Thanks so much, Ben! 😀
A great post! Nature has a way of bringing insanity back to saneness! That was a very cute garter snake under foot! No need to fear.
Dwight
Thank you, Dwight!
I actually thought the snake was cool. I didn’t know they could move so quickly.
Ha, they move quite fast!
yikes! You kept your cool re the snake. So, from down on the ground to up in the air all’s well that ends well …
Hahaha. Thanks, Susan. Yes.
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