Several weeks after reading Mary Oliver's poem
I came upon my own. I had noticed them before,
walking in the woods, but this time I truly saw
them. A good poem can do that to you.



Mary Oliver's White Moths

Now I too have seen them
Frenetic and flickering
Like motes in the light
Where the setting sun
Sneaks through a little
Between the deep trees
And the shallow stream.

How they dart and hover,
Settle like twining vines
Of white opening flowers
Braiding one tree trunk,
Make love in the cattails,
Shimmer over the water.

Soon now, in the dark,
They will sleep like stars.




Poetry by countryfog
Read 410 times
Written on 2010-12-02 at 14:03

dott Save as a bookmark (requires login)
dott Write a comment (requires login)
dott Send as email (requires login)
dott Print text


countryfog
Yes, truly white, though they may have been small butterflies rather than moths . . . I'm not lepidopterist enough to know the difference. Mary called them moths and so I did.
2010-12-02



Are you writing about something real? Truly white?

I saw frost flowers in the woods yesterday. How many times in a lifetime do we see such sights? Each time may be the last time. Never enough time.
2010-12-02


John Ashleigh The PoetBay support member heart!
Very beautiful. When I read this, I feel like I am there in the woods. Lovely imagery.

Regards,
John.
2010-12-02