Butterflies
New beginnings
With transforming hope
Their soft wings of freedom and grace are painted with a promise of blue calm
—
We watch them land gently on golden flowers
They hesitate for a moment before stretching their wings
A momentary pause
Then floating again
—-
They like to tease the bright purple berries growing on green stalks
Almost landing on them - but not quite
You ask “why haven’t the birds eaten all the berries”
It takes time to ripen - I guess
Patience and promise will give full bellies
After hunger and want
—
Our path meets the river
The river that cooled us on a hot day last year, or the year before, or maybe it was a dream I had.
The river flows slowly - almost reluctantly between its bank
It seemed more alive in my dream
—
Heraclitus said “you can never step in the same river twice”
He said life is in a state of perpetual change
But within that change is a connection that pulls us together, even when we appear to be falling apart
He died 2500 years ago
I wonder if he liked rivers?
-
Tall trees hold the sky above us
A cathedral of green with splashes of blue
Branches reach across the nave
One crashes to the ground suddenly and slowly
It reminds me to focus on the now
It’s okay to leave the past in the past
It’s okay to leave dead philosophers in the ground
-
Tomorrow there will be new adventures
Today I walk this trail feeling gratitude and joy
Because you are next to me with the butterflies, the river, the golden flowers, and the purple not ripe yet berries
About the Creator
Archery Owl
Father and Friend
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Comments (3)
The transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly links nicely to transforming hope. I like how we can use it to reflect new beginnings. The blue calm. I like the imagery. Their hesitation before stretching their wings flows nicely. You bring the creatures in nature alive with this line. The wisdom about the berries. That in order for the birds to eat them, they need patience. A key thing to point out. Then here comes the river. Our relationship to it grows stronger on hot days. This is one of my favourite lines from you. 'its okay to leave dead philosophers in the ground'. I like how you summarised all the subjects you touched on in the end. The butterflies, the river, the golden flowers and the purple not yet ripe, berries. This was an outstanding piece, Archery 🤗❤️
This flows as a river does - great imagery and I like the question that you asked within it.
Love the way you combined your sensory experience with what you're thinking. This felt like a gentle philosophical stroll.