She wakes me in the night
an angry voice in the hallway
heels on a wooden floor.
She comes out while I’m on the deck
leaning forward in the folding chair
turning pages eagerly.
She says Hi.
I say how are you?
Hung-over.
She pauses and I follow her gaze.
Is that a moth or a butterfly?
I say it’s a butterfly
you can tell because it rests with its wings up
not spread.
She says it looks like it’s dying.
and recedes indoors.
I think of the child’s view
that all creatures have an opposite
frogs have toads
mice have rats
and there are tricks to telling them apart.
© Saradha Koirala first published in Hue & Cry issue 4: Champion This! 2010 – out now
I like the way the tension of juxtaposition builds through the poem to the ‘reflective’ conclusion.
Nice one getting into Hue and Cry. I’m keen to check it out but not sure where to get a hold of it down here…
Heya,
I’ve been enjoying your blog and it’s so nice to be in contact via poetry! I bet Chloe can send you a copy if you email her hueandcryjournal@gmail.com.
I hope that works.
Cheers
First poem (first incident) I’ve read of a butterfly appearing in the night. Can you remember what it looked like? Size, colors, design. Obvious guess — a Monarch. How many times in bright New Zealand my eyes have momentarily chased the hysterical but easy-to-catch Magpie Moth — oh, just a moth — when hoping for so much more than that.
Alas, ’twas the following morning. However, I enjoy the image of you chasing ‘hysterical’ magpie moths!