Butterfly Of Death Poem by Kim Barney
Butterfly Of Death
I was sitting in my garden
Just relaxing in my garden
Doing nothing in my garden
When I saw a butterfly
Butterfly there in my garden
Appearing there of a sudden
Not surprising in my garden
To appear a butterfly
There was something very different
In this creature from my garden
Beautiful he was but fright'ning
Butterfly in my garden
Something he was saying to me
Something softly whispered to me
Something audible just barely
This butterfly in my garden
His words came softly to my ear
Those words were soft but they were clear
My blood ran cold when I did hear
Yo soy la Marisposa de la Muerte!
I understood those words, all right
And my whole soul was filled with fright
To die just now did not seem right
So I feigned ignorance
Spanish, I do not speak, I said
Please try some other tongue instead
Or go away and leave me be,
Strange creature from my garden
Closer he came, my fright increased
My heart beat faster, almost ceased
And once more spoke the little beast:
Ich bin der Schmetterling des Todes!
I do not understand, my friend.
That sounds like German (I pretend
I'm unable to comprehend
This creature from my garden)
Closer he came, within three feet
My heart increased its frantic beat
Louder he spoke, almost a bleat:
Eu sou a Borboleta da Morte!
Filled with terror am I by now
Thinking I must escape somehow
Yet I know this he'll not allow,
This specter from my garden
My mouth is dry, I cannot speak
I try to run but I'm too weak
And then he lands upon my cheek,
This phantom from my garden!
I am all numb and paralyzed
All my worst fears are realized
These words I hear with my last breath:
I am the Butterfly of Death!
Written 20 Jan 2015
Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil
Note: I deactivated this poem (temporarily, I thought) to see what poem PH would put in its place as one of my most popular ones, but when I went to reactivate it, I could not do so. I was forced to resubmit it. I still have about a dozen other poems that have to be redone also.
17 August 2016
Note: On 25 March 2017 this poem was selected as Member Poem of the day, one of five poems so far to receive this honor.
Thank you, Poem Hunter!
Swat that critter with the folded newspaper of denial. LOL And congratulations!
Yes, reminds me of the traveler to Samara. Take a look at Kiss.
Can a beautiful creature like abutterfly be terrorising? But you built the poem in such a way so as to feel the terror.Fear of death is there in everbody.We don't know when it will come.We pretend to ignore its presence.But ultimately we succumb to its capture.
Excellent poem, told in all brilliance! Congrats being chosen as MPOTD, Kim. Wish to congratulate you, eventhough the choice happened in 2017, Kim.
Great poem my friend! And I just love that picture, it is perfect. You are not only a talented, superb poet, but also a truly gifted photographer! I'm in awe of your ability to put into words with such depth what your artistic heart sees in pictures. What a gift.
Smoky, my friend, thank you for the comment, but I was not the photographer. I just found that picture on the internet. Some of my poems do have my own pictures, but not this one. Thanks again.
Excellent poem. Because you rhymed all your crimes are forgiven
Only you (and maybe Edgar Allan Poe) could make a butterfly seem terrorizing!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/18/2024 9:54:27 AM # 1.0.0.1119
This makes good reading! I think butterflies were harmless, but now know different! Thanks for sharing!