Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE BENUMBED BUTTERFLY, by AUBREY DE VERE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE BENUMBED BUTTERFLY, by                    
First Line: Beautiful creature, how I envy thee!
Last Line: Ingrate! Have chattered more than thou art worth.
Subject(s): Butterflies; Insects; Bugs


BEAUTIFUL creature, how I envy thee!
Pillowed on that soft bosom, gently heaving
In its transparent purity; more fair
Thus exquisitely shadowed by thy wings
Of crimson, purple-eyed, bedropt with gold.
The morning chill nigh killed thee: -- happy creature!
Thou wilt revive again, like a glad soul
In paradise; and tremble in thy bliss,
And wave thy wings rejoicing. Ha! even now
The breath of love that ruffles o'er thy down,
Like summer breezes o'er a bed of flowers,
Hath stirred the life within thee, and awakened
The fragile spirit of thy tender frame.

But see -- she smiles, she smiles! her sunny mouth
Dimples with hope and joy; her dewy eyes
Are full of pity. Oh how sweet to watch
The heaven-like changes of that angel face!
She smiles upon thee; and, as if new life
Came like an emanation from her eye,
Thou leap'st to life again. -- Ah, silly one;
Say, wilt thou leave that haven of delight
And safety, where she cherished thee, like Love,
And nourished thee with pity and warm sighs?
Alas! like Love ingrateful! So, poor elf,
Inebriate with joy, thy giddy wing
Shall, for a time, thy form from flower to flower
Waft; but autumnal dews shall soon benumb
The little feeble heart within thee; soon
Like the harsh season of adversity,
Night winds shall find thee out, and thou shalt die --
No gentle breast to shelter thee again.

Oh! what a throng of similes I wove
For thee, while, cradled in that happy place,
Thou slept'st supine! Methought that thou wert like
A delicate flower cast on a bank of snow; --
Like Cupid nestling in his mother's arms; --
Like a fair barque from winds and waves escaped,
Close harboured in a warm and sheltered creek; --
Like a star beaming from the Milky Way; --
A monarch on his throne of ivory; --
A jewelled brooch; -- a bright autumnal leaf
Rocked on a limpid wave; -- a humming-bird
Perched on the blossom of the orange tree: --
Or fairy sprite, ethereal Oberon,
Sleeping within a lily's stainless cup; --
Or, dearer still, as famous poets feign,
A Psyche, in her emblematic dress
Of life, and joy, and immortality,
Harmlessly dreaming near her wedded love.
Nor these alone -- but thou art fled; and I,
Ingrate! have chattered more than thou art worth.





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