Cypress Branches Literary Journal - Lamar State College-Orange

Prose – Honorable Mention
Soothing the Soul of Lady Butterfly
Sandra Quaid Stark Latiolais
While the Californian butterfly prepared for a summer vacation, his companion, Checkerspot,
found him marking the months of April and May on his calendar with an attempt to find a new mate.
Another repeated attempt to lure Achilles Moonshine into his life left him lonely again, costing him his
very close friend, Checkerspot. However, the loss was easily replaced by lustful thoughts of future
beauties and the Californian continued his mission. With an occasional fly by night Swallowtail and
Red Admiral fluttering by, he dipped about and quickly fluttered away. He rubbed wings with Miss
Peacock of Houston and flittered about Small Tortoiseshell, but boredom weighed him down like a ball
and chain, so he took flight again unconsciously.
Along the southern region of Texas, an occasional fly by night Swallowtail and Red Admiral
fluttered passed until at last he decided to plant roots in a small town in called Orange Grove, where he
found me, Lady Butterfly.
I was enjoying a sunny day when I noticed my new neighbor, California, and his delightful
garden. What an herbaceous nettle! The stinging perennial; the Northern European (and Asian native)
could be seen throughout his dwelling place. His beautiful spring garden remained in blossom for the
whole summer and grew opposite mine, just over the fence. Even with nature and all its heavenly
beauty, had I known then what I know today, I would have continued my lonely days amongst my very
own Texas Thistle and avoided his ill attempt to lure me into romance.
It wasn’t long before curiosity consumed me, and I began to wonder if California’s herbaceous
nettle and my kitchen wizardry combined would make a delicious creation of mouthwatering pesto. It
began as a great conversation starter, and as we joined in, we came up with a secret recipe for a tasty
polenta! As the evening approached, we found ourselves flirting in the kitchen with plans for dinner at
my place.
My best china held an astonishing overview of garnishment beneath a tantalizing flicker from a
fresh pair of candles. Alluringly so, his wittiness and charm became the topping of a long anticipated
desert. After dinner, I followed him back to his garden where we spent the remainder of the evening
with our wings spread across an American Red Rose. We gazed at the stars, contemplated the purpose
of the Big Dipper, and then fell asleep in a bed of red velvety petals.
Days followed, and I began neglecting my usual chores. I forgot all about my outside interests
and focused mainly upon California. Had I continued my writings and readings and familiar outings,
perhaps I would have taken the necessary precautions a female should. Had I not read enough of my
dear William Shakespeare to know how deadly love could be? Even Shakespeare’s character Hotspur
guides us metaphorically, such as, “out of this nettle…we grasp this flower.” He warns us of the danger
of the nettle and the grasp of the flower where our safety is concerned.
As time progressed, I recognized my forthcoming tribulations, but not before frolicking
recklessly about the whole countryside with him. Whether we were among friends or complete
strangers, we projected our wings, as inseparable enigmas, and sometimes without a care in the world.
However, his tongue was silver and gold, and he lured me as his trophy and possession! This ownership
started with only slight verbal responses and grew physically as he sat me down to mold me to his
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