Tiny Butterfly Effect
Tiny butterfly wings
flap
in Brazil
set off a
c
a
s
c
a
d
e
of atmospheric events that
weeks later
forms a tornado
in Texas.
Tiny insignificant circumstances
can change
everything
shape large complex systems
e s
v e
o v
l
into future consequences
embrace the Chaos Theory.
Things we find under bricks
wood lice pill bugs
creep and crawl and slide.
Rollie pollies remove heavy metals
lead, arsenic and mercury
from the soil:
they save us.
Tiny footsteps in the snow
lead giants out of hell.
Tiny things
have the power
to change the world.
Cherish the small
and magnificent
be aware of their hidden power
smallest voices can have
biggest influence.
flap
in Brazil
set off a
c
a
s
c
a
d
e
of atmospheric events that
weeks later
forms a tornado
in Texas.
Tiny insignificant circumstances
can change
everything
shape large complex systems
e s
v e
o v
l
into future consequences
embrace the Chaos Theory.
Things we find under bricks
wood lice pill bugs
creep and crawl and slide.
Rollie pollies remove heavy metals
lead, arsenic and mercury
from the soil:
they save us.
Tiny footsteps in the snow
lead giants out of hell.
Tiny things
have the power
to change the world.
Cherish the small
and magnificent
be aware of their hidden power
smallest voices can have
biggest influence.
Peter Devonald
This poem is copyright (©) Peter Devonald 2024
About the Writer
Peter Devonald
Peter lives in Manchester UK where he contributes to Stockport/ Manchester Post, Culture Supplement and poet in residence Haus-a-rest. Winner Waltham Forest Poetry 2022, Heart Of Heatons Poetry 2023 & 2021, joint winner FofHCS Poetry Award 2023, Forward Prize nomination 2023 and two Best Of The Net nominations 2024. Widely published and anthologised. Won 50+ film awards, former senior judge/ mentor Peter Ustinov Awards (iemmys) and Children’s Bafta nominated. www.scriptfirst.com