The Weight of the Butterfly Flower

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Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

0 posted 2004-02-29 08:02 PM

I just had to repost this poem today...because!! drum roll! Today I saw (out pulling weeds) a new shoot from this tree that died so many years ago ...it's about two feet tall...and bends to the breeze..but it is a mircle of life...and the last day of February!

The Weight of the Butterfly Flower

The flowering peach,
a daughter’s bloom.
Each February
she lived
in tiny pink bud,
her tree fed my memory,
flitted across my vision
with nectar so sweet with sorrow
that the sky wept.

Oh, such weight
the delicate pink
butterfly flower held.
It took her place somehow
and lived for her each year.
A tree-gift from the fluttering
girls and boys of second grade,
now almost middle aged
with children named
Michelle, perhaps.

She will always be eight,
the bright and moving child
of my youth,
so spark and full of fire.
The first that captured my heart
and held it,
she holds it still.

She died again this fall, Michelle,
her leaves turned and bid a final
tremble to the ground.
The tree no longer lives,
just a sentinel stark and bleak
its gamine trunk.

But
under the canopy that burned
my heart again
from brown and rotting leaves
emerges the everlasting
circle of creation,
a fragile new beginning
strong with claims of yes.
------------
In memory of Michelle http://www.angelfire.com/zine/bereaved/michelleopen.html

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

1 posted 2004-02-29 08:09 PM

I LOVE miracles...
Is there any doubt that Michelle is not smiling on her mother?
I think not...

and yes...it IS a day for miracles!

lucky
Senior Member

since 2000-01-17

Posts 1601
Idaho

2 posted 2004-02-29 08:14 PM

And still flourishing...

dale

Speaking of ghosts, wouldn't you know here comes mine again...
~Rosemary J. Gwaltney~

Dark Angel
Member Patricius

since 1999-08-04

Posts 10095

3 posted 2004-02-29 08:29 PM

smiling from ear to ear.. this is absolutely beautiful, indeed a miracle.

p.s was this after our phone conversation M?

sigh.

M

Beauty of the world which is soon to perish has two edges, one of laughter and one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder.
(by Virginia Woolf)

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

4 posted 2004-02-29 08:34 PM

Yes, Maree...or I would have told you! Thanks Karilea and Dale...this was special...I know you understand how much.

ThisDiamond
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-02-22

Posts 9353
Michigan, USA

5 posted 2004-02-29 08:59 PM

Martie:
I visited your precious secret place...and it brought the thawing flow of February from my heart too.
Hugs,
TD

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

6 posted 2004-02-29 09:32 PM

A miracle..truly a miracle.
On the last day of February too.
Indeed Michelle is smiling at you dear Martie.
Heart hugs~

~I've loved you forever, in lifetimes before~

Rosemary J. Gwaltney
Senior Member

since 1999-08-26

Posts 997
northern mountains, Idaho

7 posted 2004-02-29 09:41 PM

I think of you and Michelle every February, my friend! What a lovely poem this is. You are a great inspiration to me, Martie, and your word-gifts to others are vast. I'm happy about that little tree!

.

The spiritual wind that holds survivors aloft, plants the seeds from which bloom new hope ... R.J.G.

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

8 posted 2004-02-29 09:44 PM

A magical gift of love... for February and forever. *S*

Grover
Senior Member

since 2004-01-27

Posts 1967
London, ON, Canada

9 posted 2004-02-29 09:45 PM

Very beautiful, Martie. I really enjoyed this. Kudos to you! Grover.

James_A_Fraser
Senior Member

since 2003-09-03

Posts 972
Out Making Anticlines

10 posted 2004-02-29 10:34 PM

/pip/Forum88/HTML/000906.html

'Nuff said.

~~J

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

11 posted 2004-03-01 04:35 AM

splendid!

dingusjr
Member

since 2003-09-24

Posts 415
Missouri

12 posted 2004-03-01 05:40 AM

WOW, MARTIE....as always!

Goodknight
Member Elite

since 2002-06-15

Posts 2386
Ohio, USA

13 posted 2004-03-01 11:00 AM

a wonderful write Martie - thanks for sharing it again - nature and life bring us special moments and you write them so very well - Paul

scorpio
Member Ascendant

since 2002-10-02

Posts 5178
right...there

14 posted 2004-03-01 11:17 AM

A miracle for sure Martie! And message sent just for you. Wonderful!!

believe in what your heart feels...

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean

since 2002-08-27

Posts 40215
Realms of Light

15 posted 2004-03-01 11:39 AM

I do believe your little angel has sent you a message, Dear Martie!

I read your poems and looked at the photos of your precious Michelle ~ real heart-string tuggers! God bless you both ~ and the rest of your beautiful family!

Love & Eternal Light,
EA

wranx
Member Elite

since 2002-06-07

Posts 3689
Moved from a shack to a barn

16 posted 2004-03-01 11:52 AM

I transplanted a Butterfly bush to the banks of the river here. I had planted it in town, in too small an area, where it withered. It too, flourishes now.

Nightshade

Member Patricius

since 2001-08-31

Posts 13962
just out of reach

17 posted 2004-03-01 12:59 PM

Ah, Martie, how wonderful !! hugs,Chris

"At one glance
I love you
With a thousand hearts."

— Mihri Hatun, Turkish poet

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

18 posted 2004-03-01 01:03 PM

Martie, this is the most uplifting piece I've read in months. Thank you for sharing this joy of rebirth and renewal.

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

19 posted 2004-03-01 01:50 PM

(tears fall down my cheeks) Oh Martie, now I'm tearing up in joy because I truly believe with all my heart Michelle is what made this miracle of life possible, as she'll always be the spring in your heart that helps the flowers grow, as you are the flower delivery girl and she is encouraging you to continue to do your job to spread loveand blossoms to the world! (big angel hugs) God Bless You, dearest friend, you are a true angel as she is, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Martie, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"You'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around and come back home" MB20

Marge Tindal

Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-06

Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores

20 posted 2004-03-01 03:20 PM

MartieSis~
You bless this world with the tellings~

This is a most welcomed render of thought that lives again in the heartbeat of remember~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost,
the spirit rejoices over what it has left.
- Sufi epigram <))><

[email protected]

BluesSerenade
Member Patricius

since 2001-10-23

Posts 10549
By the Seaside

21 posted 2004-03-03 11:58 PM

When you write of Michelle you move me so,
with love beyond words.

Hugs Martie~

muted

Member Elite

since 2004-01-15

Posts 2949
Elapsing, Eclipsing, Evolving

22 posted 2004-03-04 12:08 PM

im crying at the sheer beauty of this..tender bittersweet endings and beginings....

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

23 posted 2004-03-04 12:44 PM

Martie -- I am so happy to hear of the new budding and I would believe it is a miracle, too! I so appreciated your precious rendering, here.

.....jo

Greeneyes

Member Rara Avis

since 2000-09-09

Posts 9903
In Your Poetic Mind

24 posted 2004-03-04 09:08 AM

Martie~

always so touching to read of her....heartfelt! hugsss

~~**~~
There are moments when speech
is but a mouth pressed lightly and
humbly against the angel's hands.

Corinne
Member Ascendant

since 1999-10-28

Posts 5167
state of confusion

25 posted 2004-03-04 10:08 AM

Martie,

What an uplifting poem! A bit sad, too, but you always end on an up note. How wonderful to see that tree returning! It is the cycle of things, isn't it?

Peace to you.

Corinne

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

26 posted 2004-03-04 10:15 AM

Wonderful poem and so deeply touching.
I went on the site and saw also the pictures .... gorgeous girl and Mommy. My heart goes out to you, precious Mom and poetess.
Love, Margherita

Startime55
Member Elite

since 2003-04-05

Posts 2148
Alberta, Canada

27 posted 2004-03-04 12:21 PM

I am so glad you reposted it...Magnificent...

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