like souls
waiting
to pass through
purgatory
on wings of schmetterlings
their flutter
like white yonahs
yearning
the rhythm of tranquillity
where love and peace
shelter need
this is my desire:
that I shall not disturb
the essence -
the quiver in others
Author notes
The Irish have a saying that the butterfly [“schmetterlings” in German] is dead souls waiting to move through the cleansing of purgatory. “Yonahs” are doves, mine are white, symbolizing peace. Butterflies also symbolize ‘love’. I have tried to explain that one’s thoughts are sometimes chaotic, but progress towards order – as is the premise of the chaos theory, and explained in the butterfly effect: the amount of difference in the starting points of the two curves is so small that it is comparable to a butterfly flapping its wings. The flapping of a single butterfly's wing today produces a tiny change in the state of the atmosphere. Over a period of time, the atmosphere actually does diverge from what it would have done. So, in a month's time, a tornado would devastate the lives of many!
FransB
A contest entry
- November Rounds #2 by CitrineSunrise.
700 points, ended December 11, 2008, 20 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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Your delicate language needed no explantion (and I actually prefer to find meaning in the poetry rather than to have it explained in the author's notes). Your last stanza was very powerful and a worthy goal for all of us. Thank you for your entry. Peace, Liz
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Love this!
Bravo Frans! As delicate as a butterflies wings & the breath of a dove! I can understand not wanting to disturb a persons essence, but you know what? Sometimes people need to be 'ruffled' to bring them out of complacency & to help them to 'come to grips' with reality & the need for change! I discussed Mt. 18 with a brother today & confronted him with 'family' needing to go to one's brother to point things out. We became closer as friends & as church members [family]! It was very rewarding. Now lets see if I can keep the progress going when I confront a sister about a dangerous situation she's in! Oh...I feel a poem coming on! Great write Frans! I'm sure this will do well in the Contest! -
So Beautiful
This meant so much to me. Ever since my son passed butterflies have been all around in the warm weather. Everywhere my family and I go we see them more then we use too. My daughter kept saying it was her brother Brian. She was the first to notice how many seem to follow us around.
Thank you so much for sharing your poem and your author's notes. Hugs and Smiles
Bless You Always,
Sandy,


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Beautifully written. I see how the poem could symbolize the butterfly effect, but Im glad you explained. even without the explanation, it is beautiful
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How tenderly awakening. This is a treasure and beautifully worked for this contest. My dear poet, your words blossom on this page with truths and understanding. Exceptional poetry in this. I absolutely loved it. ~Pamela


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Lovely analogy of this piece, for both the butterfly and dove...how life forms...I look at butterflies as a new beginning...blessings and luck in the contest.


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The first event in this universe to disturb what was before, is the big bang. The biggest explosion ever is perhaps the mother of all assaults. Before the dawn of time is the essence of the whole of which all fragments in space time are a part. It may have blown all apart, but the essence is beyond energy and matter. We could not undo it even if we tried. I wish you the best of luck in the contest.


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I think the way we pass from a life to the eternal sleep is comparable to the atmosphere we surround ourselves with, if there is chaos then the passing maybe fraught with nervous energy, if it is a peaceful closing then the move forward i would like to think would be a waft of silken thread that lifts us upwards. Beautiful touch here my friend
C


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Touching the fine weave ...
of flax, the quiver leads to the shimmer of gold ... And in this we are linked to the Divine and to Love.
I loved the metaphors in this poem; the motion of emotion; the spiritual force caused by the tiny impulse.
Good luck in the contest, Friend.
Love
Myra












