Iphigene here. I wasn’t so sure what to post today, but as I skimmed through my poetry books, I found this poem by Robert Graves. It’s short, simple, but true. I’m sure that this little poem is more than just about the cabbage-white butterfly. The Poetry Friday host this week is Diane at Random Noodling.
Flying Crooked
by Robert Graves
The butterfly, a cabbage-white
(His honest idiocy of flight)
Will never now, it is too late,
Master the art of flying straight,
Yet has – who knows so well as I? –
A just sense of how not to fly:
He lurches here and here by guess
And God and hope and hopelessness.
Even the aerobatic swift
Has not his flying-crooked gift.
In an unposted letter of 1933, Robert Graves wrote that scientists “fail to understand that the cabbage-white’s seemingly erratic flight provides a metaphor for all original and constructive thought.”
Gathering Books 
Perfect poem and photograph, Iphigene! I really love these lines:
“He lurches here and here by guess
And God and hope and hopelessness.”
Butterfly is just like so many of us, I guess!
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Hi Tara,
That’s what I loved about this poem, it short and simple, and definitely about a butterfly, but Graves captures how most (if not all) of us fee. I’m glad you enjoyed this poem. My apologies for such a delayed reply. I’m quite here and there these days and not quite in GB for most of the time. 🙂
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The photo and the poem are terrific, Iphigene. I love the idea of the metaphor for all poets.
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Isn’t it a wonderful thing?! I was looking for the perfect picture of the cabbage-white butterfly but this stood out. It must be the blue, that vast expanse that made me think it fits the poem perfectly. Thanks for dropping by Linda. 🙂
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“(His honest idiocy of flight)” is a great line. It reminds me of me! Thanks for sharing it!
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I’m glad you liked the poem dmayr. This is one of those poems when i read just really took hold of me in it simplicity and profundity. But isn’t that the case most of the time…the profound are the simple ones. 🙂
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This is wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing it. I am sure a lot of us can relate to that jagged flight and take hope in it’s success.
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Hi Andromeda,
I’m really glad this poem is a hit among many. It’s such a simple poem, but it speaks so much of something so close to everyone..that jagged flight….
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I love the poem, but especially his belief that the butterfly’s “seemingly erratic flight provides a metaphor for all original and constructive thought.” Very well said.
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That little note had to be included. What other way can this poem be explained but through the words of its poet. I’m glad this little poem resonated with you. I think Graves went way way beyond butterflies with this poem and captured a sentiment so common in all of us.
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I can relate to the cabbage-white butterfly – “He lurches here and here by guess” I’ve been known to lurch a time or two. Thanks for sharing Robert Graves’ poem. =)
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Hi Bridget,
I’m glad you enjoyed this poem. I’m not quite familiar with Graves, but this poem just stood out. When I read it, it just spoke to me and made sense. Maybe its because like you i do lurch too. 🙂
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Perfect metaphor! I love this poem.
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Thanks! I’m happy to know this little poem that spoke to me was something that spoke to you too. 🙂
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Thanks for sharing! I think I like the quote you included at the end as much as the poem itself. :0)
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Hi Robyn,
You’re most welcome. Sometimes when its my turn to post for poetry friday it takes a while for me to decide which poem to post. This time around, Graves poem just jumped off the page and I knew it was worth sharing. After all, we all fly crooked in this expanse called life.
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Dear Iphigene, could you please point me to the source of the remarkable note from the 1933 letter?
All best wishes,
Etienne
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Hi Etienne,
I got the poem from this book called Poem for the Day two (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Poem-For-The-Day-Two/dp/070117336X) and it was there that I copied that bit of trivia about the unposted letter in 1933.
Hope that helps.
Iphigene
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Hi – beautiful poem, photo, and message. What is the source of the photo? Did you take it? Thanks so much.
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