Twould Ease a Butterfly
poem 682
‘Twould ease a Butterfly Elate a Bee Thou’rt neither Neither thy capacity But, Blossom, were I, I would rather be Thy moment Than a Bee’s Eternity Content of fading Is enough for me Fade I unto Divinity And Dying Lifetime Ample as the Eye Her least attention raise on me
Twould Ease a Butterfly - meaning Summary
Smallness and Aspiration
The speaker addresses a blossom, contrasting a butterfly's brief delight and a bee's prolonged industry. Rather than seeking the bee’s sustained attention or usefulness, the speaker prefers a single, intimate moment from the flower. The poem frames fading and a short life as spiritually sufficient, suggesting that a brief, focused notice can be more meaningful than long usefulness. It values intensity and graceful decline over longevity and productivity.
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