I am a wavering moth,
a dusty Hebrew character,
inky like my name.
I am lost in the night,
fluttering and in flames
but drawn towards the light.
Feeding on fluff and shadows,
I sleep among the living
and wake up with the dead,
when beating hearts
are unforgiving
to souls that have been bled.
Kim M. Russell, 2017
Image found on http://www.ukmoths.org.uk
My response to Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie Tale Weaver #107: Lost 16.02.17. Also linked to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Artistic Interpretations – Immigrant Portraits.
Lorraine tells us that she often finds herself lost: in thought; in a physical space; in nightmares; in her mind; in a book or story. Being lost can be pleasant or frightening. Reassuring or jarring. She has asked us to weave a tale with the threads of lost.
writing in north norfolk 
Vivid imagery — how well you describe the life of a moth. Moths have always fascinated me — you reminded me of the mysteries of the creature that intrigue. I am picturing the large luna moths pressed against the screen door.
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I’ve always thought of butterflies as the living and moths as dead souls. I feel sorry for moths being the poor cousins as they are really rather beautiful, if less colourful.
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I like the analogy — I never thought of the relationship of moths and butterflies in such a way. Moths are considered a “pest” at night, while butterflies are seen as a blessing in the day.
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“fluttering and in flames
but drawn towards the light.”
There is a lot of faith in these lines
Have a blessed Thursday,
much love…
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Thank you Gillena – much love back to you xx
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This is so beautiful and sad, lots of people banging against that screen door too, but they can’t resist the light
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It is very sad but it seems to have been happening throughout history – the human race should have learnt something from history but it just keeps making the same mistakes.
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Lovely, moody piece. I always pity the moths.
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Thanks Debi!
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Chilling piece, Kim. It choked me a little, seeing the moth flying her dance between night and flame, between dream and death… chilling and powerful.
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Cheers Magaly!
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I sleep among the living
and wake up with the dead,
when beating hearts
are unforgiving
to souls that have been bled.
These lines strike a chord and send shivers reeling down my spine! Most evocative write!!
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Thank you, Sanaa!
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Wow! And Excellent! 🌹🌹🌹
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Cheers!
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Oh, wow, this is lovely. Stunning imagery and rhythm, and haunting words. I love the metaphor.
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Thank you, Angela!
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My pleasure, Kim. 💜
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I like the underlying paradoxes in your description.
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Thank you, Kerry.
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Your closing lines are especially powerful!
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Thank you!
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The image of the moth.. is so very strong, a great image for how it can be.
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Very haunting description of a journey into darkness.
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So many people living in darkness are drawn to the light just to find more darkness.
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Butterflies migrate – I hadn’t known that – right down the outer banks – An intriguing concept that I took in many directions moths vs. butterflies and how they relate to immigration… and our view of immigrants as well… so nice metaphor!
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Thank you, Margaret. Moths are fascinating creatures. Most writers tend to write about butterflies but I know of a few stories that have been written about moths, mainly ghost or horror stories, but hardly any poems. I was thinking of Jewish refugees at first and then of all immigrants risking everything as they are drawn to the bright light of a ‘safer’ new home.
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