If they could speak

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Homero Gómez Gónzalez

As the butterflies dance around the great green, the grand ballet of nature and life takes place,

A kaleidoscope of colors - orange, black, white

Like the balance of the world  swirling across the last rays of the sun

 

And they pirouette for all that is beautiful and warm - swaying like time and its grace

Tiny feet - little black silk strings - tapping across the earth and him,

 

Him- for all they know is goodness and a peaceful soul,

Braveness shaped with a beating heart and bones,

If the butterflies could sing, they would sing for him

About the pines and their guardian - about the man that held them close in his arms

For they had never witnessed such gentile touch - life and beauty had found a place in his soul

 

And once more,

Every year they would travel towards their dance - five thousand steps towards their friend

Knowing no harm or cruelty would come for them,

For they know no better strength than the love for beauty and all that was, is, and will be.

 

And if they could tell tales - they would all be about him,

If they could cry - if they could turn back time

The earth will know no greater sadness than theirs,

 

They would wish on their wings capable of turning the tide - for one more year - one more lifetime 

One more glance at his open arms - one more grand ballet; orange, black, white

 

But the monarchs are wise - they know there’s more to see than what meets the eye 

There’s more to feel and love, than physical touch,

They feel his memory - what was, is and forever will be

 

For a short cut- time is nothing compared to what he left behind,

 

I write about him clinging to the dance,

I don’t want to forget - I can’t

He’ll live in every word I’ll ever write

 

And if the butterflies could speak - they would ask you not to forget

An injustice was committed here,

Life is not taken away by hand - it is cherished by the heart

 

They would ask you to always remember his name - 

Remember it every day,

Until your voice speaks the words they can’t,

For if the butterflies could speak, the first phrase would be "justice for him".

 

Homero Gómez González, a Mexican environmentalist, known protector of the Monarch butterfly, was found dead in January 2020 in the municipality of Ocampo, after two weeks of his disappearance.

Gómez administered a sanctuary located in the oyamel pine forest, where the Monarch reproduces before continuing its journey up north, the sanctuary was part of a strategy by the environmentalist to stop the illegal logging in the area.

 

According to International Amnesty, Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries for environmentalists and activists, counting up to 45 deaths in 2020.

 

This poem is dedicated to...

 

1. Sinar Corzo Esquinca (January 3, 2019)

2. Noé Jiménez Pablo (January 18, 2019)

3. José Santiago Gómez Álvarez (January 18, 2019)

4. Rafael Murúa Manríquez (January 20, 2019)

5. Gustavo Cruz Mendoza (January 20, 2019)

6. Bernardino García Hernández (January 21, 2019)

7. Estelina López Gómez (January 23, 2019)

8. Samir Flores (February 20, 2019)

9. Eulodia Lilia Díaz Ortiz (March 26, 2019)

10. Abiram Fernández Hernández (March 30, 2019)

11. Camilo Álvarez Pérez (April 3, 2019)

12. Luis Armando Fuentes Aquino (April 11, 2019)

13. Julián Cortés Flores (April 12, 2019)

14. Telésforo Santiago Enríquez (May 2, 2019)

15. José Luis Álvarez Flores (June 10, 2019)

16. Mario Moreno López (June 18, 2019)

17. María Cristina Vázquez Chavarría (June 28, 2019)

18. Arnulfo Cerón (November 20, 2019)

19. Catalino Barradas Santiago (November 30, 2019)

20. Manuel Alejandro Gutiérrez (December 11, 2019)

21. Josué Bernardo Marcial Santos (December 16, 2019)

22. Isabel Cabanillas de la Torre (January 18, 2020)

23. Homero Gómez González (January 29, 2020)

24. Benito Peralta Arias (March 13, 2020)

25. Isaac Medardo Herrera Avilés (March 23, 2020)

26. Karla Valentina Camarena del Castillo (March 29, 2020)

27. Juan Zamarrón Torres (April 1, 2020)

28. Adán Vez Lira (April 8, 2020)

29. Pablo Guzmán Solano (April 9, 2020)

30. Esteban Martínez Pérez (April 9, 2020)

31. Eugui Roy Martínez Pérez (May 7, 2020)

32. Oscar Ontiveros Martínez (May 12, 2020)

33. Antonio Montes Enríquez (June 6, 2020)

34. María Elizabeth Montaño (June 19, 2020)

35. Zenaida Pulido Lombera (July 19, 2020)

36. Jonathan Santos (August 11, 2020)

37. Javier Eduardo Pérez Hidalgo (August 19, 2020)

38. Tomás Martínez Pinacho (August 24, 2020)

39. Jeanine Huerta López (August 27, 2020)

40. Mireya Rodríguez Lemus (September 2, 2020)

41. Oscar Eyraud Adams (September 24, 2020)

42. Daniel Sotelo (September 25, 2020)

43. Cruz Soto Caraveo (October 20, 2020)

44. Juan Aquino González (October 28, 2020)

45. Rodolfo Díaz Jiménez (November 2, 2020)

Poetry