The Moth

14 Comments

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  • Life

    Poem Commentary

    All life is precious. 

    The Moth

    In the solitude of my garden room

    A single moth outside catches my eye

    Fluttering in its golden costume

    Its flight gone frantically awry

     

    Slowly it flutters toward the earth below

    Landing softly without ceremony

    It twitches and turns to and fro

    Withering in sullen quiet harmony

     

    Suddenly it is still as all life escapes it

    Now completely lifeless before me

    Its lonely sprit it does finally emit

    Becoming one with nature’s canvas of debris 

     

    A life has ended with my eyes as witness

    And I can’t seem to weep at its death

    My feelings leave me frozen and actless

    I pause and take a single deep breath 

     

    Was that simple moth’s life without any meaning?

    Will my passing be witnessed without a trace of a tear?

     With these questions in mind I lift the moth from its bedding 

    And bury it with silent reverence… and an appropriate prayer.

    ©Copyright 2009 Charles Gragg

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    connsk8 commented on The Moth

    09-22-2009

    This I love, you acknowledged nature even in its most simple seemingly insignificant form and how you described it was beautiful in its plainness, you gave it beauty, you are in your glory in this one, or at least I am in enjoying it,thank you my Friend for showing us beauty where we never thought to look before and appreciating something we take for granted...

    Charlie23 commented on The Moth

    09-14-2009

    Your so dry! I love your humor, hampton! Such a peaceful beginning, brought to an untimely end...maybe I dunno what their lifespan is.

    Hampton

    09/14/2009

    Thanks for getting the subtle messages I try to build into most of my poems. A poem without a message leaves the reader wanting.

    ginga commented on The Moth

    09-12-2009

    Hampton, Even a moth deserves the care and prayer you have imposed upon its demise. I love the philosophical and human touches you have displayed in this song to a moth. ginga

    Hampton

    09/12/2009

    Thank you. You seem to have a sensitive soul.

    StandingBear commented on The Moth

    09-11-2009

    Life is a circle and we're all along for the ride. We wonder whom loves us, really loves us. Whom will shed tears when we are gone. We wonder and hope they will at least not cry for long. A top notch instant fav.

    Hampton

    09/11/2009

    My sincere thanks to you for taking the time to review and comment.

    Artie commented on The Moth

    09-11-2009

    You always manage to find a subjects of such beauty and strength, in the most unusual places. lol - 10 from me

    Hampton

    09/11/2009

    Thank you Artie.

    If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry.

    Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) American poet.

    Hampton’s Poems (111)

    Title Comments
    Title Comments
    Searching 5
    The Poetess 14
    Nonsense 12
    Solitude 18
    Lame Limericks 14
    Message to Papa 15
    Young Jimmy O’Fallon 11
    The Computer From Hell 18
    Life Ain’t for Sissies 16
    The Mind In Motion 13
    The Game of Poetry 9
    Silence 55
    WordSlinger 19
    Holiday Thoughts 12
    Sweet Mary 18
    From White to Grey to Black 19
    The Reckoning 12
    And All of That Jazz 16
    Today 25
    No Offense, Just My Opinion 16
    Lucky 10
    You’re Only as Old as You Feel 13
    Saturday Night 13
    Political Change? 14
    The Female Gender 17
    I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? ( With Epilogue) 10
    I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? 7
    Remembering 11
    This Web We Weave 13
    The End 16
    The Day the Clouds Cried 16
    The Path of Life 12
    My Mother Ruth 12
    Forever–ast
    er
    11
    Humanities Challenge 14
    A Cowboy's Perspective 12
    July in Buda Texas 14
    The OP Poets Parade 20
    The Chatelaine 12
    Shot Through the Heart 17
    Poetry and Fine Wine 18
    The Man What Am 10
    The Final Beat of My Heart 16
    The Rainbow of Poets 19
    A Cowboy's Lament 13
    Of This World I am Not 17
    The Wee People 19
    An Evening at an Irish Pub 15
    The Scent of Love 14
    Fresh News from Buda Texas 16
    Memories of Times Past 13
    The Dance of the Poets 20
    The Confession 14
    Road to Obscurity 18
    Barbara 14
    Shadows 15
    Prescience 17
    Words That Bind 54
    Wondering 26
    New Year News from Buda Texas 13
    We Are All Witnesses 16
    Christmas 25
    A Cowboy’s Prayer 29
    The 9 ers 24
    Love Defined 27
    Tis a Time to Give Thanks 21
    More News From Buda Texas 26
    Choices 26
    News from Buda, Texas 21
    In Search of God 21
    Writers of Poems (WOPs) 26
    Out of the Darkness 15
    Visions from Within the Mist 18
    Baseball 12
    The Night Stalker 16
    The Man I Presume to be Buck 16
    The Sounds of Time 17
    The Little Man in the Green Hat 18
    Blah Blah Blah 14
    One Two Three 13
    Carpe Viam 11
    Love in the Afternoon 13
    The Moth 14
    Lost & Dungeons of the Mind 11
    The Creative Process 19
    The Truth and the Tribe 19
    The Long Wait. 19
    Feathers 26
    The Arrow 14
    Take Two Cialis and Call Me in the Morning 26
    Ghostly Images 16
    Friends 11
    Angels Without Wings 20
    IN MY OWN WORDS 13
    The Rider 16
    Pride and Shame 18
    The Winning Poet is.... 21
    Memories 13
    Politicians 67
    Your Mailbox Is Empty 18
    God's Visit 17
    Poets and Poems 20
    Love Thy Neighbor 13
    Renewal 8
    The Roar of Silence 17
    Blessed Are These Days 4
    Time and Space 5
    Life's Journey 8
    Gift To The Fallen 16
    Hunger 21
    The Antique Shop 30