Infants Remembered In Silence (IRIS) - Poems

On Butterfly Wings

By L. David Eveningthunder

Legend states that there was a beautiful butterfly who lost her mate in a battle.
In her grief, she wrapped herself in her cocoon and traveled the world over,
stepping on each stone until she found beauty in one and
was able to start her life anew.

The fancy shawl dance in an enactment of this legend. Bright colors and
bead work adorn the dress and fringed shawl which is held out as the
dancer steps and twirls, representative of the butterfly’s wings.

The fancy shawl is the most modern of the ladies dances, and gives the
young ladies the opportunity to demonstrate their individual agility and
grace. “Ladies Fancy Shawl; on Butterfly Wings”…depicts one of these
dancers, lost in the spirit of the butterfly as she lives out this legend.

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