Oh! The butterflies!
She had brushed against green
found a flood of light on wings
kisses fragile -- she screamed
afraid to move, then boneless
cells translucent -- filling with light
memories full of fingers, the promise
of kisses, laughter that flowed down
puddled in the belly and took flight again.
A hurricane of spiraling colors held her
in the eye of delight as time lost contact
she was spinning around and around
she was not moving and following
light had become a storm about her
she could feel the ground falling away
Her lips, her fingers, texture dust
brushes painting all her dreams in abstract
And then they were gone
Forever sped a way on a metaphor
She had lived lifetimes
It was easier to age with dolphins
then count the lifetimes in the hearts of butterflies
11:58 PM
Sept. 16, 2009
Alexandria, VA
Author notes
You know I would leave one under the tree and let you find it in the morning. 
Love, Tom B.
Please tell me what you think, what it makes you feel, how you are moved.
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
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Ever so lightly, you have brushed kisses of unparalleled beauty upon our friend. She is so deserving and you so talented.
A spectacular poem, to be sure.
Buddy
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Thanks for the compliment
I simply tried to take the dream in a direction full of a quiet magic, a magic that speaks to spirit instead of passion.
Peace,
Tom B.
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wow
i love this, a very worth while read, thanks for posting!
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Thanks for stopping by
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wonderful lines
What impresses me most about this work is how every line could stand on its own and yet they manage to connect, link by link.
"afraid to move, then boneless"
Beautiful. -
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There is a technique in poetry called enjambment. It is the idea that the lines you create can be read alone and create another layer of meaning along with the ones created by the sentences, metaphor, simile and other poetic techniques. Thanks for letting me know I handled this so well. Also, for being insightful enough to notice.
Peace,
Tom B. -
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I'm aware of the technique, but thank you for providing a very unique definition of it. I've never heard it put quite that way before! So much for dictionaries and English classes!
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My influences are many. From Ferlinghetti to Wallace Stevens, Dylan Thomas to Walt Whitman, a few Russians and plenty of Japanese Haiku. I learned it as the language of feelings and spirit more than anything else, a place where the friction of words creates a flame that burns as if life itself is poured into the spirit. You might like my poem "On Reading"
Peace
Tom B.
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Splendid work here.....I have fallen in love with your latest works Brother -
The lack of punc.'s do not even bother me, as your Tone in grammatical choices are set from the beginnng.....very nice job here
Bear -
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'tis the latest incarnation. I live, I learn and I share. May we all be blessed in this dance.
Love,
Tom B.
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absolutely stunning writing...am wondering about capitalization....would it float more freely without?
The little girl in me knows those butterflies so very well. Bravo!!!!!!
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Capitalization -- I don't know. It's a toss for me. This is one of my forays into magic. I am glad you tasted it.
Love,
Tom B.
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I sit here with a big smile on my face, not just because I got that kiss, but many more. Without doing a single thing out of the ordinary, it was the best birthday I have ever had. This is a lovely poem, full of so many lovely emotions that tug at me. Worlds collide in the wings of butterflies. I love this poem, and really-you know, that kiss was worth waiting for, and I have to also say its so much better when you're older.
love,
jin -
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Only the very young, before school age, and those who have been bruised and remembered how to smile understand real magic. I could not trust the wind to deliver more than a whisper and the sea is often fickle, so, I used poetry and my vision of you, in a swirl of butterflies - each a kiss, past present and future. Then, you could never know how many I have stolen.
Nor care.
Thank you, for being the inspiration for what has to be my best birthday poem. Quality people bring forth quality art. Always seems to work that way.
Love,
Tom B.
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Absulutly Stunning! The grace and imagery blew my mind. I can see her our beautiful friend with touches of wings as soft as butterflies hovering around her.
Yet a touch of whinsical sadness ..then strenghth regain.
She will treasure such a write!
Amazing my dear,
~Lisa P~
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the contest is called "but not just any kiss" and I took it to heart. Then I received my vision of butterflies and all the kisses -- past, present and future -- swirling around her. The rest: poetry. Yeah, I see she likes it. Children, definitely earlier than six, and those of us who have been bruised a few time understand the majesty of real magic.
Love,
Tom B.
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I Know this isn't the one but
I love it...has a slightly different flow to it which is thrilling Tom. One of my now favorites by you.
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This was one of my visions turned into a poem. I saw a woman with butterflies swirling around her, each representing a kiss from her past, present of future. The goal was to share this image and its meaning to me, with everyone else.
Love,
Tom B.
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You are so eloquent! Your words flutter and flow, drift off the tongue with such ease, entice, and delight... What a wondrous work of words and such a sense of being escapes into my heart after reading. I love your poetry, and I am always left in awe. Where's the book my friend? I wish you well in the challenge.
Always ♥
Renee
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she mentioned kisses without the partner and I had visions of butterflies each a kiss from the past, present or future surrounding her. The rest was just showing it to the world. Glad you enjoyed.
Love, Tom B.
The book? I will have to think upon that.
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This is profound and genuine
You are an example of an excellent Poet and Man. Loving and Kind and so very compassionate and human.
Love ,
Wellbegone
Thank you for the butterfly! -
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Thanks for stopping by
I do no more than allow myself to breath the air of a dream and allow it aromas to drift to the hearts of my readers.
Love, Tom B.
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She is going to adore this...
You have a way of bringing sunshine wherever your words visit.
Reading you guarantees a smile
Lynda
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Wonderful compliment
May I always deserve a lovely thought such as this. I read the prompt and could not help myself. This image of her surrounded by butterflies, each a kiss, came to me. Glad you enjoyed.
Love,
Tom B.
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this is so lovely!
I hope this sweeps Jin away with magic, passionate beauty, and tenderness because i found all those things here too! Happy Birthday jin!!! Hope you find all that you wish for on your day! Great write Tom!!
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Kisses
I am glad you enjoy this. She wanted it to be about kisses and I wanted to use some of the magic and tenderness from our collaboration (it is fitting you are first to comment) in this poem. I had this picture in my mind of every butterfly is a kiss -- all the kisses, past and present, in her life -- they are swirling around her. The rest is poetry.
Love,
Tom B.
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