Madame Butterfly (A trilogy of sonnets)

[Fellsman]

This trilogy of sonnets narrates the story of betrayal immortalised in Puccini’s beautiful opera “Madame Butterfly”.


Pt 1: The Seduction:

Lt Pinkerton of the U.S. Navy serving in Japan, is due to return to his base in the United States, he determines to seduce the beautiful but guileless Madame Butterfly before leaving to return home -

Oh how I love you Madame Butterfly
Oh how my heart sings at the sight of you
The time when I must leave here is now nigh
The hours we have left are oh, so few.

Oh let me spend this night in your sweet arms
Oh let the night be one of perfect bliss
This night I long to cherish all your charms
For all too soon will come our farewell kiss.

But I'll be back before this year is through
That I may take you for my loving wife
Whilst we're apart my thoughts won't stray from you
Sweet Butterfly I'll love you all my life.

So let this night of loving rapturous be
That I may take away sweet thoughts of thee.

Pt 2: The Realisation:

Butterfly is pregnant as a result of this liaison with Pinkerton, who returns to the USA where he marries. The trusting Butterfly looks longingly across the ocean every day awaiting his return and daily sings the beautiful aria "One Fine Day” (He will come back to me). By the time her son is 3 years old... The truth finally dawns on her - she will never be Pinkerton's bride -

For years I've scanned the ocean every day
Alas, my love will not come back to me
His words of love were but the grossest clay
A blind fool I - who simply could not see.

I pray my son will never know my shame
That night of love was founded on a lie
My son will never take his father’s name
And for this guilt now comes my time to die.

Oh Pinkerton, I took you at your word
I thought that I meant all the world to you
Your words were all the greatest lies I've heard
My fate is sealed, I know what I must do.

You cruelly took my innocence away
And now the price of your cheap words I pay.

Pt 3: The Finale:

Butterfly determines to commit hara kiri with her father’s sword: The blade of the sword bears the inscription: “To die with honour when one can no longer live with honour.”

I now must make provision for my son
I cannot blight his life with my great shame
For my dishonour this deed must be done
My lover lied, for this I take the blame.

My housekeeper will love my son for me
And guide him in the ways of truth and light
A man of honour he’ll grow up to be
My son will always know what's wrong and right.

My broken heart now cannot be repaired
And of this life, I now must take my leave
One day my son will know how much I cared
I only hope for me he'll never grieve.

Farewell to all my friends I here accord
Now comes the time to fall upon this sword.

Puccini's dramatic opera closes with the death of Butterfly...

NOTE
It is not possible to precis the libretto of a 3 act opera into a trilogy of sonnets with total fidelity to the narrative. The object of this trilogy is simply to give a flavour of the opera to readers who may not be too familiar with the plot: To add a contemporary note, bearing in mind Puccini composed Madame Butterfly over 100 years ago, has the conduct of our armed forces altered noticeably over the last century or so?

[qimissung]

I think you captured the spirit of the opera very well, although I have to say I haven't seen it myself.

Perhaps a little more passion, a little more heartbreak? Sometimes when trying to capture narrative events feeling can fall by the wayside.

[Fellsman]

Hi gimisung


Thanks for your response. The actual opera itself simply oozes passion and heartbreak, being one of the great operatic works of all time. The limitations of a sonnet perhaps is a major handicap in trying to write a synopsis of the story line in so few words, even when employing prosy links as in this instance.


Regards

Fellsman