In Shelly Rodrigue’s poem, “When No More Monarchs Grace the Sky,” She shares a thoughtful look at butterflies and what their declining numbers might mean. For her, these delicate creatures represent something bigger than themselves – the potential losses our planet faces if we don’t take better care of it.

The poem feels calm but a little sad. Rodrigue describes it as “pensive and somber.” She’s thinking about a time when butterflies were everywhere and how her children might not experience that same abundance.

This feeling comes from her own memories. She remembers when monarch butterflies were so common they were even part of school lessons. Now, their scarcity makes her feel a sense of loss for the beauty the world is losing.

Through her poem, Rodrigue asks us to think about how we can help. She suggests simple things, like planting certain flowers or using natural ways to keep pests away, believing that even small actions can make a difference for the future of these insects.

One line that really stands out for her is, “‘The transformation happened while we were drowsing.'” It makes her think about how easily things can vanish without us fully realizing it. It also reminds her of the monarch butterfly’s scientific name, which means “sleepy transformation.”

“When No More Monarchs Grace the Sky” is a quiet invitation to notice the beauty around us and to consider the small ways we can help protect it.

Click Here to read more of Shelly Rodrigue’s poetry and connect with her, visit her Facebook page

Read Shellys Poem in Butterflies Anthology Soon to be Available on Amazon