Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Nectar



there once was a boy
who leapt the fields
to capture beauty under glass
so his feet crushed
milk from milkweeds
and flying hair caught rivers of sun

then
              orange
flutters
            beat
soft
                against
his
      hands

there once was a butterfly
who dreamed of being possessed
but not under glass
it opened and closed its wings
like a little yellow prayer
not knowing what boys do
to pretty little things

12 comments:

Karen said...

Maybe your best poem! There are layers and layers in this.

the walking man said...

Jason this is an absolutely stunning piece. Oh how hard the lesson it is for the free to learn when they trust the hands of little boys who do not know that gentle is the rule with beauty. How ignorance of fragility is only learned once it is crushed or captured. How sorrow is learned through being unintentionally cruel. This is one of, if not, the best poems you've ever done in my opinion sir.

दीपशिखा वर्मा / DEEPSHIKHA VERMA said...

Immensely beautiful !!
boy, innocence, butterfly . . . not knowing what boys do to pretty little things. Awesome new perception!

Seré Prince Halverson said...

I agree with the others...absolutely beautiful, Jason.

Lee said...

Love the title too!(And,spring is in the air)...

PixieDust said...

I'm absolutely heartbroken... this is tragic beauty at its best... so breathtakingly brilliant it may take me some time to forgive you for the heartache you've caused...

love,
me

Shadow said...

from both sides of the coin, i love it!

Anonymous said...

To Everyone, I believe that a writer really isn't entitled to decide what is good and bad in his/her work. The reader has that absolute authority. This poem took a while to come together because it just wouldn't connect for me. Finally, I was happy with it. I would not have necessarily expected the strong reactions, but again, it only really lives when it leaves my hands. Stay tuned for tomorrow.... You've given me a idea that might be fun for all of us.

Karen, thanks for delving into them!

Walking Man, I'm truly humbled. Such words from such a strong poet are huge! As I reflect more, this poem may be a good reminder about undercurrents that don't always lead to good places.

Deepshikha, welcome! I'd love to have to pull up a chair and share thoughts her and on your own blog.

Sere, many thanks, my friend. :)

Lee, I want spring to be in the air! We're cheated a little. We're in Florida right now for a few days.

PixieDust, I'm happy and sad at the same time. I do hope you forgive me!

Shadow, that gave me a thought. It's almost like a coin that keeps slightly changing each time you turn it over.

PixieDust said...

Completely forgiven... though, I'm still heartbroken... this is a piece that will stay with me forever, even if I forget it word for word, the memory, the cadence, and the feeling will always be there... your writing is that powerful!

:-)

love,
me

Nate Wilson said...

Wow. Yeah, just... wow.

Oddyoddyo13 said...

This was very sweet and sunny. I love, love, loved it!

Atrisa said...

I can only sigh now.

Strangely one of my original compositions is almost on the same concept, http://smalltalkcompulsion.blogspot.com/2009/08/blue-butterfly.html