OctPoWriMo 2019: Day 29 + Carpe Diem #1771 Lightness of Being the Firefly

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longing for the grass

at the bottom of the pool

those fireflies.

longing for the grass

with lust almost immoral

they light up the night

at the bottom of the pool

they float free now of burden

solitude sublime

those fireflies

craving no deeper meaning

than being alive

Basho & Cie

Notes:

The "sleigh" of this Troiku was created by Matsuo Basho (1644 - 1694). The team of firefly horses was guided by me.

I just noticed this Emoji icon in the bottom right corner of my post. It looks all pissed off and frazzled. I laugh, as this is the first poem in several days that has been at peace with things. It's about fireflies, just doing firefly stuff, longing for grass, and lighting up the night. I didn't notice the Emoji thing yesterday or the day before. Maybe it exploded upon being exposed to the radioactive rage of my post.

Now it's a starched white shirt with a red tie. Apparently, the fireflies have gone into business and are dressing the part.

Carpe Diem #1764: Ants

Image by FRANCO PATRIZIA from Pixabay

have not seen any

ants marching through my pantry

dead hornet in sink

~Cie~

Notes:

I've encountered most of the usual suspect home invaders out here on the Lone Prairie: flies, hornets, mosquitoes, but no ants yet. My son and I have found several dead hornets. I suppose they came in when we opened the window on hot days. The windows need screens, which is probably a project for spring.

Carpe Diem Little Creatures Freestyle: Butterfly Release

Copyright Moon Robo

butterflies released

in memory of loved ones

one with thoughts of you

~Cie~

For my father

31 May 1936 - 28 November 2010

Notes:

The year after my father died, my son and I went to a butterfly releasing ceremony sponsored by one of the local hospices affiliated with the retirement community I was working in at the time. The butterflies have come out of their cocoons the previous night and are given to each participant in a small container. When the loved one's name is read, the butterfly is released. 

Butterflies do not have a very long lifespan. They live for about two weeks after they emerge.

My nickname as a child was "butterfly" because I loved them so much. When I was three years old, I wept inconsolably after finding a dead butterfly on a walk with my father. When we returned home, my grandmother (father's mother) had called. My mother handed me the phone to say hi to Grandma, and the only thing I said, or rather wailed to the poor woman was "poor butterfly!"

These days I'm pretty sure my nickname is either "asshole" or "resting bitch face," although Ghost Town Grover is polite about it and calls me Ornery, which is short for "the ornery old lady." In fairness, my bitch face never rests. My bitch face is on duty 24-7.

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Ghost Town Grover sez: 

"I ain't sure about the bitch face part, but Ornery is purty restless. You kin find her workin' on somethin' at all hours of the day and night. It probably ain't housework, though. Ornery ain't real keen on them domestical tasks.

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Cactus Clem Sez:

"Some folks is kinda scairt of Ornery. She's got a reputation fer bein' a mean cuss. Thing is, she's always been purty nice to me. I reckon if yer nice to her, she'll be nice to you, kinda like that Eminem feller says. That feller shore do have the spiciest language, though!

Image by HeavyMetalLover91 @ Deviantart

Carpe Diem #1762: Mosquitoes

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first night living here

vampires entered the window

bites itched for a week

~Cie~

Carpe Diem #1760: Tan Renga: Butterfly

Butterfly on Honeysuckle

on the Honeysuckle

the fragile wings of a butterfly

a fluttering sound

it's become too cold for you

your children emerge in spring

~Chèvrefeuille & Cie~

Notes:

The Hokku stanza was created by Chèvrefeuille. The Ageku stanza was created by me.

Carpe Diem #1759: Grasshopper

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oh grasshopper green

grasshoppers brown and yellow

your season is past

~Cie~

Carpe Diem #1757: Dragonfly

naturally cool

the dragonfly zooms along

to hang at the pond

~Cie~

Carpe Diem #1756: Fly

Horsefly, aka Biting Buttmunch

get lost buzzing pest 

whether biting or buzzing

you are annoying

~Cie~

Notes:

It seems that Grover and Cactus Clem forgot to tell me about the metric crap-ton of flies that reside on the Lone Prairie. Would you fellows care to explain yourselves?

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Ghost Town Grover sez: "I'm awful sorry about lyin' by omission about all the flies 'round these parts, Ornery, but Cactus Clem said that if you knew about 'em you might not wanna move here. So I done kept my mouth shut and didn't say nothing about the flies. By the way, how the heck much is a metric crap-ton? Is that like a wheelbarrow-full? 'Cause I probably hauled lots of metric crap-tons of dirt outta the mine back when I was prospectin' fer gold."

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Cactus Clem sez: "Grover, do you think I oughta lie by omission about the thing that Beavis and Butthead done in the living room to try and git rid of them flies?"

Carpe Diem Haiku: Shepherd's Purse

Shepherd's Purse

in this shepherd's purse

treasure finer than money

nectar for honey

~Cie~

Notes:

There are a few who imply that my passion for saving pollinators is stupid, crazy, over-the-top, bleeding-heart crap. To them I say, very well, you have choices. You can choose not to read the work of a stupid, crazy, over-the-top bleeding-heart, full of crap pollinator lover. You can choose not to protect the pollinators. Have fun with that when they're gone.

There are some who think the links I provide on my pollinator posts put money right in my pocket. They don't. I disclose when I may earn a small commission from a link. I earn nothing from this one except the hope that someone might learn more about why it is so important to protect pollinators, and, if they buy honey through the link, will be supporting the Butterfly Pavilion's conservation efforts. Because, you know, I'm greedy that way.

I have decided that if I ever get my crap together and actually publish a poetry anthology, I will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Butterfly Pavilion's pollinator program.

Image copyright Butterfly Pavilion

Bee a pal and click the link. Learn more about why protecting pollinators is important, and buy some honey.

Carpe Diem Field of Flowers: Milkweed

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I must remember

plant milkweed in my garden

for the butterflies

~Cie~

Carpe Diem Field of Flowers: Peony

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dainty peony

a garden's painted lady

makes a home for ants

dainty peony

ants climbing in the petals

seeking space to rest

a garden's painted lady

something from another time

and at once timeless

makes a home for ants

petals form a cozy bed

hidden from the sun

~Cie~

Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 19: Disappearing Pollinators

Copyright Charlie Neibergall

our world is poison

butterflies and bees vanish

a catastrophe

our world is poison

toxins in the air and soil

leech into water

butterflies and bees vanish

without our pollinators

we are truly lost

a catastrophe

the plants that we rely on

need pollinators

~Cie~

Note:

I am fully responsible for the Sleigh of Destruction and any Horses of the Apocalypse that may be pulling it.

Disclosure:

I earn a small commission from any products purchased from this grid. Proceeds go towards the renovation of the Grover Hotel. To find out more, please visit the Good Stuff From Grover blog.

Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 8: Spiderweb

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Spiderweb anchored

To a tree, a bush, the ground

Centered spiral shines

spiderweb anchored

strong and yet so delicate

what will it capture

to a tree, a bush, the ground

merely a decoration

a lovely accent

centered spiral shines

luring its unwitting prey

the danger revealed

~Calvin & Cie~

Note:

The "sleigh" of this Troiku was created by Calvin Olson. The Three Horses of the Apocalypse can be blamed on me.

Troiku Challenge 2019: Day 6 + Poetry Pantry #482: Chasing a Fly

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chasing a fly

in silent meditation mode

eyes fixed

chasing a fly

which keeps buzzing about me

distracting my thoughts

in silent meditation mode

I attempt to fell the beast

won't you let me be?

eyes fixed

I raise my hand to strike down

it flies out of reach

~Chèvrefeuille & Cie~

Notes:

The "sleigh" of this Troiku was created by Chèvrefeuille. The Three Horses of the Apocalypse were created by me.

This poem actually fits in with my "Legend of Seacliffe" poetry place-holders. The Legend of Seacliffe's protagonist, Randal Messana, is based on my son Michael. Michael loves bees and has neutral to favorable opinions on most insects. However, he despises flies.

I am imagining a scene where Randal is being distracted by a particularly persistent fly while tending to his horse team. Charlie and Jorn are trying to be polite and not laugh at Randal's predicament, but they are well amused.

A Child Called Butterfly

Image by Cath Hodsman

 

A Child Called Butterfly

 

Soaring on flights of fancy

They called her Butterfly

Her dreams have since flown away

 

~Cie~

 

Notes:

The American 767 is:

a tristich, a poem in 3 lines. (Cool thing to know!)

syllabic, 7-6-7 syllables per line.

unrhymed.

written with the name of a “bug” in it.

OctPoWriMo 2014: Day 1

Copyright: carlanichiata / 123RF Stock Photo

The Transformation

You made the transformation

Leaving behind the chrysalis that was your broken body

Your soul flew free like a butterfly

It was a good thing

But there are days when it saddens me

And makes me angry

That I can't talk to you any more

That I won't ever see you again

I suppose I'll feel differently when my time comes

And my soul breaks free of the chrysalis of my body

But sometimes it's hard to understand

Or to feel positive

You have this set of people saying you have to believe the way that they believe to be allowed into the butterfly garden

You have that set of people saying that there is no soul, and anyone who believes in such simply is delusional

Sometimes there's no comfort to be found for those of us

Who don't think that either of those things is true

In any case, it's all quite muddling to me

I'm always glad you're free of your suffering

But sometimes I feel left behind and lonely and I just wish I had an answer that made sense

You're beyond all of that now

Enjoy your transformation

Fly free

~Helena~

In memory of my father

30 Days of Haiga 2014: Day 26

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Original Image:

Copyright: viselchak / 123RF Stock Photo

Verse and Photoshop Manipulation:

Cie Cheesemeister

An Unnecessary Killing

 I'm unsure what sort of insect this is. I only know that once a friend of mine stepped on one, which made me upset because it seemed a harmless creature that was just minding its own business.

It made me sad when

My friend crushed the striped beetle

It had done no harm

~Petra~

 Cross-Posted to:

Animal Anarchy

Poetry of the Netherworld

For My Father on Butterfly Releasing Day

Long gone from this place

Leaving only memories

Cobwebs in the sun

~Cie~

There was a butterfly release ceremony at Mountain View Park in Boulder today, sponsored by Family Hospice of Boulder. I purchased a butterfly in honor of my father, who died on November 28, 2010 after six years of progressive physical and mental deterioration following a devastating hemorrhagic stroke on June 4, 2004. My father would have been 78 years old this year. 

My son and I attended the service. We released the butterfly. I had intended to watch its flight path, but it was eager to go and flew right in my face, so I lost track of it almost immediately.

Following the service, we drove to Golden, where there is a memorial bench in the cemetery, honoring my father. We placed the carnation we had received on the bench.

Butterflies have a special meaning to us. When the family was gathered for Dad's memorial service at the cemetery, we hired a bagpiper to play Amazing Grace at the end of the service. He walked off into the distance as he played, representing the departure of the spirit from the living world. A butterfly landed on the bench for a moment, then flew off, following the bagpiper. I previously wrote a poem about this event here.

Dad taught me to respect all life, including the lowliest of creatures, such as insects and spiders. Thus, the photo of the cobwebs inspired me. He is gone from the world of the living, leaving only memories. I don't claim to understand what happens after death as I am not particularly religious, but I do believe that something continues after the death of the body. Spirit or soul is a good enough word for it.

~Cie~

Tempest's Fly-Ku

Image from this post

Fly-Ku

Outside the window

Spider spies the fly inside

Spider, frustrated

~Tempest~

This was inspired by a Mindlovemisery's Menagerie prompt.