Ditch the ads, upload images and much more - upgrade today from 5.95/month!
Read • Contests • Groups • Learn • Forums • Store • Help
 

When Nabokov Dreamed

Missing image
Nabokov wrote while Vera drove, from study site to site;
quite tirelessly, he rode and penned, the fantasies of men.
A maid pubescent came to life within his ragged write;
erotic but forbidden love flowed from his facile pen.

But when the car would stop, he was a leading scientist
who studied entymology in marvelous detail.
While others might consider him a wordy solipsist
for Vladimir, the butterfly was nature's holy grail.

Yet in his dreams his loves would merge into a fairytale:
Lolita grew bright wings in lightest shades of Karner blue,
a nightly apparition with skin of moonlight pale,
she fluttered to his arms to make his fantasies come true.

Nabokov wrote and studied, but what Vera never knew:
His butterfly Lolita brought him magic when she flew. 




Author notes

This was DQ'd because the contest-holder wanted us to write about the picture of the fairy above the poem. I apparently took it too far in the "reality" direction by writing about a real author and a real butterfly!

The Karner blue butterfly is a federally endangered species living in a narrow band from eastern Minnesota to New Hampshire. Wisconsin is home to the largest and most widespread populations. As a larvae (catepillar), they feed on only one plant wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). Lupine grows in dry sandy soils with full to partial sun. As a butterfly, the Karner blue feeds on just about any wildflower available. (http://www. karnerbluebutterfly.org) It was first identified by Vladimir Nabokov, who is perhaps more famous for writing Lolita, than for his work as an entymologist.

    : , Your review:

    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
    • Line numbers  • Invite them to read
    : no Cost: 0 free left 0 points, You have (?)

Comments

1 - 41 of 41

  • Night Hope gold member
    October 19, 2009

    Edit | Reply

    It is too bad that the judge could not apparently see the worth of this piece, Lita. I think it is quite lovely and based within the realm of literature, as well. Still, when AP did a poll not so long ago, over 70% responding had never heard of Walt Whitman, so I'm not surprised that Nabokov fell on deaf ears, too. Still, it's a wonderful penning. I'm sure Vladmir smiled at your efforts.


  • WarrioroftheHeart
    March 4, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    I'll assume that the Fairy picture was maybe called Karner Blue? It is not really that odd that the inspiration one person gets from a prompt can be on a completely different tangent from the intent of the person who offered the prompt in the first place. I feel a little saddened that your poem was removed for just that reason.

    I must say that the first few lines with their internal assonance rolled off of my tongue quite easily and I thought it unfortunate that the assonance wasn't there for many of the other lines. This may have made it a little easier to get through some of the longer, uncomfortable words later in the poem.

    Regardless I enjoyed reading it, it is to some degree informative about the butterfly and the life of Vladamir Nabokov and, although I never really got into Lolita, I found the references to that story and the writing of it inter-related the two facets of your write well.

    Not being too strong on form poetry it was not until I read the comments underneath that I discovered that this was meant as a sonnet. I know your commentors below told you about "tireless" (which I probably would have pronounced with three syllables) but I think also the line; "a nightly apparition with skin of moonlight pale" may be short one syllable.

    This is a lovely piece, deserving of admiration. I wish you all the best in my contest and I hope you continue to write with such skill.

    Adrian.


  • Sheli gold member
    February 25, 2009
    Edit | Reply
    God that is so INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT!

  • lightwing
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    I was feeling rather down but reading this has completely cheered me powerful possibility of letting fantasy entwine with reality to add richness to life. Such a lovely flow to your words.


    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you so much, and I am glad it cheered you a bit! This was fun to write, and I thank you for reading.


  • turkoizdog
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply

    Beautiful!

    An amazing poem about an amazing writer. I had no clue that Vladimir Nabokov first identified the Karner blue. Certainly interesting to picture him studying butterflies, especially with his writing style, although of all creatures it's not surprising that he'd pick insects to study. I like how you arranged this, juxtaposing the writer with the scientist.

    The only things I can think of to change are to make "tireless" into "tirelessly" and to add a few commas (like after "Vladimir" in line 8).


    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      Thanks for your kind remarks. I didn't know Nabokov was a scientist either, until just recently, but it does fit, as Mairi Bheag says, his compulsive style. And I have changed tireless to tirelessly. I'll have to look it over again to see where the commas belong! I really appreciate your thoughtful read. Lita


  • Nienna Calmcacil
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    Wow. I'm quite impressed. Usually, I don't care for such a style of poetry as this, but this is a wonderful exception. I thought this was such a beautiful poem...

    Excellent job! =]


    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      How very kind! I'm glad you liked it even if it wasn't your kind of poem. Thanks!


  • xrain dancerx
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    This poem is written beautifully but im not sure if it exactly fits the picture. it kinda went the other way.

    ~Tae.


    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      Sorry if it didn't fit your bill. I was inspired by your contest all the same! Best wishes!

  • patrick20traveler
    February 21, 2009
    Edit | Reply
    And his prose could be so poetic. Great write.


  • AsIThink gold member
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply

    Unbelievably Wonderful...

    Ohhh...yes. This is now, one of my favorites by you. I love this picture of the Karner blue butterfly and your excellent notes were so informative. What a fantastic natural wonder, huh? And of course, with that 'tell-tale' trademark, you have constructed such a wonderful story; weaved well throughout. I could have kept reading but your story ended where it ended. I especially admire that you gave an honorable spotlight to Nabokov in this manner. Your talent is so vast. The pic and color selection and all of it were excellently done. Bravo and I wish you all the best in the contest.


    AsIThink...


    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      I am so glad you liked this. I always hope you will enjoy my poems, and when they are about nature, I especially hope that! I didn't know Nabokov was an entymologist until recently, and I was struck by the fact that he literally had two careers -- like most of us on AP, I guess. Means there's hope, huh??? Thanks so much for your comments. BTW, not everyone like it; I was tossed from the contest! (she walks away sobbing, NOT!) Lita


  • Draig aine gold member
    February 21, 2009
    Edit | Reply

    stunning

    one of my favorite poets writing about a favorite writer

    you rick my friend


  • Mairi bheag gold member
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    The wonderful thing about the novel "Lolita" is how it conveys obsessiveness. To me, the way it is written makes it a better novel than "Tod in Venedig"; plus it was written in the author's THIRD language!

    What you have done with your relentless iambic heptameter (with one hiccup - "tireless" in line 2 should be "tirelessly") is conveyed the author's obsessiveness for writing and for butterflies. You have juxtaposed the youth of Lolita (which must and did fade) with the short lifespan of a butterfly. There's even an obsessive-compulsive element to the rhymes: detail and grail, with their common last three letters, are immediately echoed with another pair, tale and pale. And you do it again with blue/true and knew/flew. Clever - it almost grates, but only almost - very clever.

    Has anyone noticed that this is a sonnet, albeit a rather unusual one? Again, it is obsessively 14 x 14!

    Overall I am very, very impressed.


    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      First of all, thanks so much for reading. That means a lot. Then, your remarks are so thoughtful. I think I was pronouncing "tireless" with three syllables, but since you are not the only one to tell me I am missing a syllable in that line, I have done the edit thing and changed it! It's probably just my midwestern, American accent! I am grateful that you noticed the sonnet, as I have been working very hard to use form. I confess, I didn't notice the repeated rhyming sounds (grail, pale, etc.) until I was finished, and then, I didn't have the energy to examine it with a mind to re-work it... I'm happy that it doesn't (quite) grate! Thank you again for your comments. Lita


      • Mairi bheag gold member
        February 22, 2009
        Edit | Reply
        More thoughts, Lita. Could you shift the butterfly pic to the end of the poem. It's a wee bit distracting where it is. It doesn't emphasise the volta, but rather takes away from it.

        Jings, this one really works.

  • chiefmac
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    The reader arrives with the narrator taking a trip through a fanatasy relationship with butterfly. The soft beauty molded in fasination, as the scientist grasp detailed reality to float away in desire for the pixi pinned to his heart

    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      A wonderful, thought-provoking comment -- thanks so much!

  • oldpoets
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    What e can learn from the poetry on AP. Good verse tellong a story of species unknowen to so many. Thank you foe sharing.

    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you; you are very kind. I am glad you enjoyed this.


  • Wandering Woodchuck gold member
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    Nice job. I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was a pleasure to read from start to finish. I think you have captured the view of this writer very poetically.

    Well done.

    Mike


    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      Sometimes something just strikes me, as did a notice about the endangered butterfly; and then, to discover it was "discovered" by Nabokov --my mind just lit up! The picture for the contest also inspired me, but apparently my poem didn't inspire the contest holder -- I was removed! Heehe3 -- sometimes there is no reward for inspiration!!!(lol).


  • Dead creature
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    Yay!!! a poem I can enjoy
    to read again and again
    good writing
    I thought you did great!

    wrote it nicely with pictures
    WELL DONE!!!

    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you so very much for your kind remarks! I really do appreciate them!


  • Sue Cardwell gold member
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    A beautiful and very interesting poem. Your author notes are very informative and I love the way you have mixed the subject matter up so well.

    All the best in the contest.

    Sue


    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you, Sue. However, Tae.Tae removed me from the contest! I guess it doesn't qualify -- nevertheless, I enjoyed writing it, and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Lita


  • cubert
    February 21, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    I spent so much time thinking about this piece, I forgot I was reading it to comment lol. I did not know Nabokov discoverd that butterfly; I learned something new.

    What an image, thinking of him writing about Lolita while sitting next to Vera! And while she is driving him around no less. Definetly my favourite part.

    Brilliant writing!
    C


    • hawkeslake gold member
      February 21, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      I am so glad you enjoyed this! I wasn't really sure if it fit the contest, but it was truly the thing that popped almost completely written into my head when I saw the picture prompt of the fairy! Thanks!

1 - 41 of 41