Gyroscope Review is celebrating National Poetry Month with a Poem Renaissance, a review of previously published poems looking for new life and new views. Every day through May 20th, a new poem to fall in love with all over again.
Courtship of the Cabbage Butterfly
by Ruth Mota
He hovered like a white-flamed metronome.
Fluttered back and forth, measuring time
beside our garden hedge. She perched, obscured
a tiny trembling sail behind a leafy curtain – until
in streak of light, she flew, spiraled upward, he in hot pursuit.
Their luminescent wings wove a glittered braid
across the bright blue canvas of an autumn sky.
Round they whirled, a maypole dance reversed
that ribboned upward. But never once a touch.
Confused, I had to learn the meaning of this tumble.
Get this! Turns out the act itself, a duller show.
While still earthbound, he wraps his wings around her
and seconds later, when he’s done, he drags her off,
then drops her.
The glorious dance I witnessed - a rejection flight.
A lofty no, rarer than the act. What made it so?
His scent, his moves, dark markings ugly to her taste?
Her motive for rejection may not be understood
any more than mine, of men who’ve marked my time.
You might say, in her case, instinct ruled, not a reasoned voice
but still you must agree, this lady made a choice.
Published in Cool Beans Lit 2004
Ruth Mota currently lives in Santa Cruz, California where she writes poetry and facilitates
poetry circles to groups in her community like seniors, veterans and men in jail. Previously she lived for a decade in northeast Brazil and worked as an international health trainer. Many of her poems focus on her experiences in Latin America and Africa. This one focuses on the hedge outside her window. Over 60 of her poems have been accepted for publication in both online and print journals.
Don’t forget to read the Spring 2025 Issue, available now, online and in print
Previous Renaissance Poets
April Poets