It’s haibun Monday at dVerse Poets where we’re writing about insects!
I bounce along, riding the lawnmower around our farm site. It’s windy and warm today…excellent weather for drying the crops for the imminent harvest. We’re glad for the silage we’ve already chopped for our livestock. Cows galumph toward the fence when I stop to toss the fallen apples I gathered for them.
While mowing in our grove, I am discouraged to note many trees show signs of stress. Both ash and spruce host invasive insects that bore into exposed spaces in their bark. An epidemic infestation across the nation appears to have arrived here. Time will tell if it’s lethal for these trees we planted many years ago and nurtured to a protective and glorious expanse.
While fretting about insects destroying our grove, I’m surprised by a singular monarch butterfly that flits ahead of me, leading the way. It flutters into my vision as I pass by again and again. Like a shimmer of hope, it gently clings to a leafy branch. Stunning creature with delicate legs and designer wings sent to lighten my mind in a moment of serendipity.
monarch messenger
flashes autumn’s joyful hues
arresting beauty
a poem in my pocket 
Oct 07, 2019 @ 21:55:16
designer wings!
Oct 04, 2019 @ 18:51:07
Lovely writing about a beautiful insect.
Oct 02, 2019 @ 14:00:05
I find it scary and sad with those invasive insects. Not easy to know the cause of them spreading, but I assume humans have moved the balance somewhere…
It could be the butterfly effect.
Oct 02, 2019 @ 18:48:01
I definitely experienced the butterfly effect 🙂
Oct 01, 2019 @ 06:19:04
I like this glimpse into farm life. I didn’t realize invasive insects have invaded ash and spruce trees as we haven’t many of those in this area. First the dutch elms and now the spruce. But i love that the monarch flits about. Beautiful.
Oct 01, 2019 @ 09:03:36
There will always be invasive species and disease to contend with but I’m glad that monarch numbers are increasing!
Oct 01, 2019 @ 15:47:17
Me too. I have been watching butterflies of all kinds along with my bees flitting about.
Oct 01, 2019 @ 01:25:57
A beautiful title to give the vivid orange monarch: autumn’s ambassador! Like the way you set the farm scene, Lynn, the build-up to the encounter, and the gorgeous description of the singular monarch butterfly, ‘a shimmer of hope’.
Oct 01, 2019 @ 09:04:23
Thanks, Kim…my heart soared to see it!
Sep 30, 2019 @ 21:37:39
Beautiful. I like the juxtaposition between the beautiful insect and the harmful ones.
Sep 30, 2019 @ 21:38:34
Thanks for noticing that and commenting, Sascha.
Sep 30, 2019 @ 21:24:22
Lovely haibun Lynn.
Sep 30, 2019 @ 21:37:30
Thank you, Rob 🙂