Elusive Butterfly: Friday Faithfuls

Written in response to Friday Faithfuls:
“Aether or Ether Conundrum”. Here’s my take.

Jim Adams always gives us something to think about! This week at Friday Faithfuls, Jim’s fascinating theme is “Aether or Ether Conundrum”; he has asked us to respond by writing about why it is difficult to understand things we are unable to see, or to discuss the mysterious qualities of light, or any other subject we think is appropriate.

I’m sure my fellow writers will agree that describing and writing about the mysterious qualities of light or those things we are unable to see can be quite challenging. These elusive yet compelling subjects often play a significant role when creating our stories and poetry. While we may not fully grasp the science behind it, we welcome and rise to the writing task.

The first thing that came to mind while reading Jim’s post was the lovely song, “Elusive Butterfly” – a metaphor that represents love, truth, or a goal that is beautiful, fleeting, and difficult to capture. It is about the “magic of the quest”, emphasizing the joy and energy of the search itself rather than just the destination. A 1966 folk-rock hit by American singer/songwriter Bob Lind, the song, which peaked at #5 in the US and UK, was inspired by W.B.Yeats’ poem, “The Song of Wandering Aengus”.

“The Song of Wandering Aengus” by William Butler Yeats (1897)

I went out to the hazel wood,  
Because a fire was in my head,  
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,  
And hooked a berry to a thread;  
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,  
I dropped the berry in a stream  
And caught a little silver trout.  

When I had laid it on the floor  
I went to blow the fire a-flame,
But something rustled on the floor,  
And someone called me by my name:  
It had become a glimmering girl  
With apple blossom in her hair  
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.  

Though I am old with wandering  
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,  
I will find out where she has gone,  
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,  
And pluck till time and times are done,  
The silver apples of the moon,  
The golden apples of the sun.

I hope you enjoy this week’s musical selection. This is “Elusive Butterfly” by Bob Lind.

Aether or Ether Conundrum

Thanks to Jim Adams for keeping us aware and on the ball. And thanks to you all for stopping by for a look and a listen.

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

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