There was,
a painted lady
with lustrous copper hair
beckoned, peacock me,
with tempting vice transactions
But, now much later I wonder
Who lured whom?
Can I find the answer
in my silver-banded hairstreak?
Was the lady a small wood-nymph
lead astray by tales of monarchs?
Was she my Lilith or
did she end up bleeding,
a crimson patch behind a dumpster?
I dress in black, in a mourning cloak
of dark regrets
for my sins committed
for promises I’ve broken
for wealth I’ve hoarded.
Oh, to be buried in a coffin
made from speckled wood,
my grave unmarked
but by hers
a spring white velvet rose.
John Collier
Today Merril hosts poetics at dVerse with a prompt with names of butterflies where we should incorporate at least three of them. I have used
Painted Lady
Lustreous Copper
Peacock
Small wood nymph
Monarch
Mourning cloak
Speckled wood
Spring white
Velvet rose
August 4, 2026
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Lilith has been popular lately, Björn, and I like your version of her and her ‘tempting vice transactions’. So sad to end up ‘a crimson patch behind a dumpster’.
The end for many painted ladies of the night…
Oh, it’s a surreal encounter, or perhaps nightmarish. Who lured who indeed!
who is hunter, who is prey?
Yes!
Certainly a tragic end to Lillian, but done in a beautiful fluttery, manner! Well done, Bjorn! 🩵
I think we don’t really know about her end…. but it might have happened.
Lovely flock of butterflies gathered in your poem, Bjorn.
Björn I love how explored the mythic connection to Collier’s ‘Lilith’ and you weaved in those butterflies brilliantly 🦋
Very cool, sir, I Loved the Lilith reference.
a colorful portrait. i especially
like the who lured whom thing
OMG!!!
Someone killed her!
Chilling tale
much love
This definitely has a mythical feel to it with a more modern twist.
Very nice! Well done 👏🏾👏🏾
I quite like the gothic vibe of this piece 😀 Well penned~
I love the question you pose … ‘who lured whom’ … a mystery for all of time? Perhaps you will tell? Before you are placed in the wooden coffin?
A mythic and epic feeling interpretation – Jae
Wow! I only managed to include three. The thought of a Crimson Patch behind a dumpster made me want to cry.
Your usual splendid work.