Butterflies and Crows (Revised)
In the time of before
when color emerged from grey,
and butterflies swayed, seeing
blue, green, red, and yellow,
when storms erupted, and branches grew
and everything had a counterpart
in nature’s art of fractals. The stars,
the sun and moon, the black of night and day’s light
kept earth balanced, though
a small-winged tipped could cause a shift,
but mostly that was righted.
Now ice drips, and winds drift
in wayward tempest gales,
the trees are split, their roots cry out
and mycelium networks ache as they transmit
arboreal dying sounds.
You dream of the past, you dream of now
and in your dreams, you understand
that crows carry wisdom’s key—they warn
with caws–
a telling, not a reprimand,
like Casandra, what they must do
even if their truths fly by,
even if nobody listens.
My photo fits, but this is a slightly revised version of a poem I wrote in response to artworks by Gaynor Kane, Anjum Wasim Dar, and John Phandal Law for Paul Brookes’ Ekphrastic Challenge in April. You can see the art there and read the other responses. The poem seems very timely right now. I’m sharing this with dVerse Open Link Night.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
I recognize this one. and your photo goes so very well with it, too.
Lovely, Merril.
Thank you so much, Dale. I’m pleased you remember it. I think my revision made it better.
I cannot say as I don’t know it off by heart but this did read so beautifully 🙂
Thank you!💙
🧡
Wow. This is so tender and beautiful. My heart ached a little reading this.
Wow! Thank you so much! That made my day. 😊
This is great – for me the best of the night so far. As Nitin suggests above, it achieves a real resonance and is so strongly and well written, especially towards the end. Brilliant and knowing writing Merrill
Thank you very much, Scott. I truly appreciate your comment and kind praise.
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you very much, Paul.
I also see the crows as harbingers. Your poem reads like a prophesy.
Thank you, Lisa. 😊
You’re welcome.
Nice poem. Musical, meaningful. A few surprises, too.
Thank you very much for reading and commenting!
This is deeply moving, Merril! I especially like; “You dream of now and in your dreams, you understand that crows carry wisdom’s key.” ❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Sanaa! ❤️
Truth, like the salt of old, clings with broken fingers to the mantle of commodity. Like the copper penny, it still exists, but it does not see the light of day that often.
Thank you, Glenn.
The contrasts you create through your imagery are striking! Then…enter crows! A perfect finale.
Aww–thank you very much!
About halfway through listening to your poem, I said to myself, “Casandra is the speaker of this poem.” You are so right about the poem’s timeliness. It goes right into my “Poems for Troubled Times” folder.
Thank you so much, Liz! 💙💙
You’re welcome, Merril!
Enjoyed your reading!
Thank you very much!
😘
😍
A local (& intense) storm passed. I shut off the ceiling fan & opened the doors to the back deck. just as I tuned in here & finished reading this again, 3-4 large crows settled into the lollipop maple just off the deck and started their screaming. Blew me away.
See–the crows know! 😏
I really enjoyed this Merrill, especially these lines:
“that crows carry wisdom’s key—they warn
with caws–”
I believe this! ☺️💕
Thank you so much, Christine. That makes me happy. 💙
“You dream of the past, you dream of now
and in your dreams, you understand
that crows carry wisdom’s key—they warn
with caws–
a telling, not a reprimand,”
Interesting take on the crow’s caw.
Much💚love
Thank you very much, Gillena. I love to watch crows. 💙
Sadly, not many listen. Apart from timeliness, there is an underlying wistfulness, a touch of sadness that resonates.
I enjoyed your reading, Merril. 💙
Thank you so much, Punam. It is sad and wistful. 💙
beautiful to hear your wonderful poem Merril!💖💖
Thank you so much, Cindy! 💙
I remember this poem, Merril, and I like your revision. Your words do seem prescient!
Thank you very much–but unfortunate that it does seem so.
Premonitory. And it’s all our own work. The whole world will split and scream before we do anything to stop the suffering. Meanwhile, in the Billionnaires’ Bunker, the rats will be preparing to leave us to it.
Probably true.
This is so beautiful, Merril. The first two lines and “a telling, not a reprimand” are my favorite lines. I loved hearing you read it at OLN. Thank you so much for your patience at OLN last night. Once it got rolling, it was fun. For me, third time will have to be the charm! 🙂
Thank you very much, Lillian! It was fun once we got going, and I appreciate that you stuck with it till you did get it going!
It’s so wonderful to hear you reading this beautiful, haunting poem.
Thank you so much, Mike! 🙂
If only all would listen
Indeed so, Derrick. Thank you.
You know I have a special feeling for crows myself, as perhaps all poets do, as they reflect for us so much of our own natures–and function often as they do here as life’s foretellers and warners. This poem charms even as it brings its chill that life must suffer and fade, that beauty falls under the blade of greed all too often, and that human fools tamper with the great machine of Nature at a cost our entire species and every other will eventually have to pay..or so I read. A fine poem, indeed.
Thank you so much for your kind words and very thoughtful comment. Crows are very special. I watched a group of them chase an eagle today. 🙂
This is so powerful.
trees are split, their roots cry out
and mycelium networks ache as they transmit
arboreal dying sounds
I felt that, really felt it, very strong stuff.
So well done.
Thank you so very much, Ain!
Nature is busy adapting with its whole body — I think of it struggling back for ages after 95 percent of life was killed off 250 million years ago — sacrificing so many lives finding a way forward. That’s what I hear in your crows.
Thank you, Brendan. I’m pleased you heard my crows. I thought of that, as well.
I’m listening! Or at least trying and thinking I do.
I listened to you read.
Hearing you once in awhile, allows for a greater read of other poems.
Thank yo, Merril!
Thank you very much, Resa! 🙂
There are so many fractals to consider here. Wonderful.
Thank you very much, Ken. 😊