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I Saw a Naked Wood Nymph

I sat down in the forest,
a picnic in the shade.
I saw a naked wood nymph
flitting across the glade.
I dropped my sandwich there
laying on the ground.
I went to chase the wood nymph;
whose beauty was profound.

I found another world,
a forest paradise,
While running round in circles,
the wood nymph in my eyes.
At last I caught the vixen
on my seventh try.
Before you get excited,
She was a butterfly.

.

.

LTC Roy E. Peterson, US Army Military Intelligence and Russian Foreign Area Officer (Retired) has published more than 5,000 poems in 78 of his 101 books. He has been an Army Attaché in Moscow, Commander of INF Portal Monitoring in Votkinsk, first US Foreign Commercial Officer in Vladivostok, Russia and Regional Manager in the Russian Far East for IBM. He holds a BA, Hardin-Simmons University (Political Science); MA, University of Arizona (Political Science); MA, University of Southern California (Int. Relations) and MBA University of Phoenix. He taught at the University of Arizona, Western New Mexico University, University of Maryland, Travel University and the University of Phoenix.

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25 Responses

  4. Joseph S. Salemi

    In Greek the name of the minor divinity Psyche means two things: the human soul, and “butterfly.”

    The Disney animated figure of Tinkerbelle is really just a modern version of the beautiful little wood nymph with the wings of a butterfly.

    Reply
    • Roy Eugene Peterson

      Psyche meaning both soul and “butterfly” fits perfectly with the double entendre of “She” in the last line. The Disney comment was great to contemplate. Thank you, Dr. Salemi, for your wise contributions.

      Reply
  5. Brian A. Yapko

    This poem is enchanting, Roy. It’s one which would be suitable for illustration. And I think it’s perfectly permissible to get excited by the discovery of a butterfly!

    Reply
    • Roy Eugene Peterson

      Yay for butterflies! Why not get excited by them “flitting.” Thank you, Brian. I sent a picture of a wood nymph with my poem, but it might have been too direct a hint. One can view a good photo of one on Wikipedia.

      Reply
  6. Shamik Banerjee

    What an ending! You have packed great humour in this little delightful poem, Mr. Peterson. Thank you for making me chuckle!

    Reply
    • Roy Eugene Peterson

      Telling me of your joy is the greatest feeling for me. Thank you, Shamik.

      Reply
  7. Margaret Coats

    Roy, even though “Wood Nymph” may be the name of a butterfly, this short poem also evokes passage into and out of a world that is more than the natural one. You actually say so. Dropping a mundane sandwich and letting it lie as you explore visionary potential and then return! Isn’t that what we do when our spirits are ready for an adventure in beauty?

    Reply
    • Roy Eugene Peterson

      You always sense there is more to the story, and you define it so superbly. I contemplated “flitting” versus “flirting,” for example, and “she” is meant as a double entendre. You have taken this poem to another level, though, and I thank you for that.

      Reply
  8. Stephen M. Dickey

    I enjoyed this one Roy. Of course, flitting tells us what’s going to happen, but I missed it on the first read.

    Reply
  9. Roy Eugene Peterson

    As I mentioned in my comment back to Margaret, I contemplated whether to use “flitting” or “flirting.” Thank you, Stephen, for your comments!

    Reply
  10. Daniel Kemper

    Clever. A great little quick hitter. Reminds me of, Basho, I think.

    Fallen flowers rise
    Back to the branch, I watch
    O–butterflies!

    Reply
  11. Sally Cook

    The butterfly is one of God’s most beautiful abstractions. Thank you Roy, for honoring it as you have with your remarkable poem.

    Reply
    • Roy Eugene Peterson

      Bless you, Sally, for the kind comments and love of butterflies.

      Reply
  12. Yael

    This is cute, funny and entertaining all at once, I like it, thank you.

    Reply
  14. Adam Sedia

    This was a beautiful and fun piece. It reads like a children’s rhyme with an ironically raunchy subject, and then it turns the tables at the end. Nicely executed.

    Reply

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