Broken But Not Beaten! Poem by Denis Martindale

Before I walked back home again to gently shut the door,
I had to stop the moment when a butterfly I saw,
And followed it to watch its wings, to see the patterns there,
As God through Nature shows me things if I but stop and stare.
Two wings I saw, one further down, just three brown wings so small,
Yet it had flown across the town, was this a miracle?
This broken creature made me pause, such that I had to stay,
For not all creatures have such flaws, good fortune stripped away.

It seemed as if it posed for me, that I must learn again,
The cost life asks for flying free, the damage now and then.
Though just a brown-winged butterfly, not red, or white or blue,
It made me sad and made me sigh for what else could I do?
And so I followed it once more before it left the scene,
Despite the fact it had this flaw, in truth, it looked serene,
No sign of pain or anguish shown, no faltering at all,
And it was this I sensed alone, the greater miracle.

For not all suffer such a loss, and choose to carry on,
Some face their sorrows as their cross as if all hope has gone.
That butterfly will never know the lessons it had taught,
Before at last, it had to go, what wonders it had brought.
And yet I know, in my old age, the setbacks time presents,
I've faced each one at every stage, with faith as my defence!
While I've got faith, in full supply, to help my fellow man,
I'll think of that brave butterfly, and do the best I can!


Denis Martindale. October 2020.