Christine Ann Clatworthy lives and works in Bedfordshire UK. When in 2007 she lost her eldest daughter Andrea to cancer, she was inspired to produce her first poetry collection "In Two Minds" to raise funds for the Sue Ryder Hospice that cared for Andrea in her final months.
Christine has now released her second collection "To Glimpse a Butterfly." This enigmatic creature represents our freedom on our journey to an unknown end.
Madame Butterfly
“Like the tattoo,” I say,
as we lay there...after.
Nice touch – the butterfly
perched on the letter ‘M’.
At least you won’t forget
who you are,” I add,
lighting up, post-shag style.
She doesn’t answer –
not straight away.
“Pleased you like it.
Yours truly designed it.
Used to fancy myself
as an artist, would you believe?
Well – what’s a girl like me got
if not her dreams?
Saw the opera once...
Puccini – he wrote it. Anyway,
the name kind of stuck.
You know how it is.
Never even knew
what I was really called –
or who spawned me.
And butterflies are a bit like me;
here one minute, gone
the next. In my line of trade,
permanency don’t exist.
Lived most of my life
out this old, brown suitcase
with its cardboard label –
my name in blue ink
and it don’t matter one bit
should the rain choose
to mispronounce it.”