Poetry Friday ~ Pretty & Ugly

12 Jul

Hi, everyone! Welcome to my blog. 

 

 

Did you know that the average life of a butterfly is around two weeks? Some species only live a day or two and other species are capable of living around nine months. It makes me sad to think that such a beautiful creature’s life is so short.

On the other hand, Cockroaches are filthy, immortal scavengers that are unaffected by radiation. In a post-apocalyptic world, it will be these dirty little critters that survive. Okay, they’re not really immortal but when you read facts like: a roach can live a week without its head, you begin to wonder. The truth is that as long as there is shelter and food, cockroaches can comfortably live in a home or business for years, creating massive infestations.

Anyway, the average moth can live up to five weeks. Some people see moths as the butterfly’s ugly cousin. I’m not sure that’s true, since I’ve heard of some species of moths that are quite beautiful.

This week’s poem is a double Tanka. I hope you enjoy.

 

Poetry_Friday-envy-butterfly-Vashti Quiroz Vega-Vashti Q-Tanka_Tuesday-Colleen Chesebro

 

Pride & Envy

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As a butterfly

you wore your wings high with pride

looking down on worms

forgetting what you once were

a crawling caterpillar

◊

No plain butterflies

just lovely flowers in flight

while the moth looks on

Counting the days to their end

Death comes in a week or two

◊

Poetry_Friday-Vashti Quiroz Vega-Vashti Q-poem-tanka-pride-envy

◊

 

Pretty and Ugly are this week’s prompt words chosen by Colleen Chesebro ~ The Fairy Whisperer.

*The catch is that we can only use the synonyms to these words in our poems.

Colleen hosts a challenge that anyone could participate in called, Colleen’s Weekly Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge every Tuesday, and you have until Sunday to create a post featuring your Haiku, Tanka, Haibun, Etheree or Cinquain poem. She is an author and poet, and also does book reviews and so much more on her blog. Be sure to check it out.

 

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read. I appreciate it. Have a great day!

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44 Responses to “Poetry Friday ~ Pretty & Ugly”

  1. Bette A. Stevens July 12, 2019 at 1:55 pm #

    Wonderful Aurora Jean! Sharing…

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Colleen Chesebro July 12, 2019 at 2:22 pm #

    At our new house, I’ve noticed some small dark-colored moths that cluster near our front door. A few have snuck in and the thought occurred to me that they were ancient fey spirits drawn to my home’s energy. They stay a couple weeks and then, sadly… I find their tiny bodies dead on the floor. You wrote some lovely Tanka so dear to my heart. ❤

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  3. Priscilla Bettis July 12, 2019 at 2:26 pm #

    “Lovely flowers in flight,” I love that!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 12, 2019 at 3:46 pm #

      I’m so glad, Priscilla. Thank you! Have a great weekend! 😀

      Like

      Reply
  4. John W. Howell July 12, 2019 at 2:32 pm #

    This was enjoyable, Vashti. Thank you.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Annette Rochelle Aben July 12, 2019 at 3:40 pm #

    Love the observations! You are so gifted and I am grateful you shower us with your talents and wisdom.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 12, 2019 at 3:49 pm #

      Aww. I want to print out your comment, frame it and put it up on my wall. You’re the sweetest, Annette! Thank you so much. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. balroop2013 July 12, 2019 at 4:33 pm #

    Nice reflections on pretty and ugly. Your poetry reminds me of butterflies hovering over flowers and I chose to look only at them, ignoring the ugly creatures you mentioned. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 12, 2019 at 6:04 pm #

      Hi, Balroop! Thank you. I pictured butterflies doing little pirouettes over a field of flowers. The other creatures I mentioned, although ugly and scary do have a function on Earth. As much as cockroaches disgust me I think we would be drowning in waste if they weren’t around. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. Miriam Hurdle July 12, 2019 at 5:14 pm #

    I’m glad the Monarch in my garden seems to be among the 9 months butterfly. I’ve seen it between my garden and the neighbor’s for months now. I don’t like the powdery moths.

    Great poem, Vashti. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 12, 2019 at 6:06 pm #

      Thank you, Miriam! I think you’re right. I believe the Monarch and the Painted Lady are the longest living butterflies. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Miriam Hurdle July 12, 2019 at 6:14 pm #

        You’re welcome, Vashti! I don’t know too much about Painted Lady. Monarch travel long distance. ❤

        Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q July 12, 2019 at 6:21 pm #

      They’re both beautiful. ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • Miriam Hurdle July 12, 2019 at 6:47 pm #

        There’s a second butterfly and I thought it was Monarch. I’ll look carefully because it doesn’t look as so much orange. I hope it’s a Painted Lady. ❤

        Liked by 1 person

  8. D.L. Finn, Author July 13, 2019 at 1:31 am #

    Beauty is sure fleeting, Vashti:) Great post and I like moths just as much as butterflies. Can’t say I’m a fan of cockroaches.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 15, 2019 at 7:26 pm #

      I like moths too but they scare me a little. I don’t know why. I have a phobia with cockroaches. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  9. coldhandboyack July 13, 2019 at 2:02 pm #

    I like both butterflies and moths. Even the caterpillars can be pretty.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 15, 2019 at 7:34 pm #

      You’re right about that, Craig. I’ve seen some really pretty caterpillars and moths. Thank you! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • coldhandboyack July 15, 2019 at 9:54 pm #

        I’m even writing someone I’m referring to as a moth girl right now. It involves implanted antennae that taste things.

        Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q July 15, 2019 at 10:55 pm #

      Wow. That really sounds intriguing.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Jan Sikes July 13, 2019 at 5:01 pm #

    This is such a sad post, Vashti, but so very true. It makes me want to enjoy each bit of beauty that comes as it is fleeting! Great job with the poetry!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 15, 2019 at 7:43 pm #

      Thank you, Jan! You’re so right we should appreciate the beauty in all things. 😀

      Like

      Reply
  11. tracikenworth July 13, 2019 at 8:39 pm #

    Reblogged this on Loleta Abi Author & Book Blogger.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  12. dgkaye July 14, 2019 at 11:37 pm #

    Beautiful incorporation of the life of a butterfly in your double Tanka Vashti. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  13. H.R.R. Gorman July 15, 2019 at 9:46 am #

    Beautiful!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  14. Natalie Ducey July 15, 2019 at 10:47 am #

    Thanks for sharing this gift with us, Vashti! I have a fascination with butterflies and their transformations. It’s a remarkable journey. Wishing you a lovely week. XO

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 15, 2019 at 8:32 pm #

      Thank you, Natalie! It is an amazing transformation. You have a great week too! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. yvettemcalleiro July 16, 2019 at 5:26 pm #

    You cracked me up with your cockroach description! Love it! Lol!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 17, 2019 at 11:24 am #

      Thank you, Yvette! Those things have to be alien lifeforms to have been able to live through the ice age and withstand high levels of radiation. I cringe just reading the word. 😀 xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • yvettemcalleiro July 18, 2019 at 11:17 am #

        Lol! I agree with you about them being some form of alien life. Lol! I’m not as creeped out about them though. Spiders…that’s a whole other story! I can’t be anywhere near them!

        Liked by 1 person

    • Vashti Q July 19, 2019 at 11:24 am #

      That’s why I love lizards and iguanas. We have all kinds of spiders here but the lizards and iguanas eat them, so I hardly have to deal with them or roaches. Ugh! I just got a wave of nausea just writing the word. I need to see someone for that. 😛

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. Annika Perry July 19, 2019 at 5:31 am #

    Vashti, a fascinating post! 😀😀 I love butterflies although sadly there seem to be less then a few years ago. Having said that an influx of up to 11 millions painted lady butterflies is expected in the U.K. soon and they are calling out for volunteers to count them (the mind baffles how this is possible!)🦋 I won’t forget the fact of a headless roach living for a week without its head!!

    Two lovely tankas to conclude your post, capturing the dichotomy of the lives of the butterflies and moths! Have a great weekend, my friend! 😀❤️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Vashti Q July 19, 2019 at 11:42 am #

      Hi, Annika! Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I’m saddened about the situation of the butterflies and bees. Something is killing them off and I’m sure someone knows what’s going on (probably some greedy pesticide corporation) but I’m so happy to hear the news about the painted lady butterflies. You have a great weekend too, my friend! ❤ xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Colleen’s 2019 #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Recap No. 135, #SynonymsOnly – The Faery Writer - July 15, 2019

    […] “Pride & Envy,” Double #Tanka, by Vashti Quiroz-Vega […]

    Liked by 1 person
  2. Colleen’s 2019 #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge Recap No. 135, #SynonymsOnly | Word Craft ~ Prose & Poetry - October 25, 2020

    […] “Pride & Envy,” Double #Tanka, by Vashti Quiroz-Vega […]

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