Butterflies are Rare in Beehives

by Patrick Ramsay

"Butterflies are Rare in Beehives" is the debut chapbook by Utah poet Patrick Ramsay, whose work has appeared in Metaphor, QSaltLake Magazine, The Signpost, Sink Hollow, and The Standard Examiner.From the is something in the chaotic delight of finding wings, or losing a tail and gaining legs, that has always fascinated me. From tadpole to bullfrog, from larva to honey bee—or butterfly, nature’s metaphor of metamorphosis always comes with a In order to grow, we must change, but that change can be spectacular.In the early stages of Butterflies are Rare in Beehives, I looked down at my life recorded in stanzas and realized I was looking back on my own metamorphosis. All the struggle, all the joy, all the fear, repression, and electricity. From young Larva, to sheltered Pupa, and then finally Butterfly—the decision to embrace what made me different from the Hive. These poems are proof of my beloved chaos. They are my found wings, my forgotten tail, my new set of legs, my decision to leave the Hive. This is my metamorphosis, and these are the parts I thought to write down.

Genres: Poetry

41 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2018

Reviews

[Alicia Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for Patrick Ramsay to release a book for years. So worth the wait.

[Chandler Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love. Love. Love. The queer poems I didn’t know I needed. Maybe you need this book too.

[Kenra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stirring poetry that hits close to home.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ramsay has a deftness for capturing feelings I've had more precisely than I could, myself, express them. His work pushed me to both tears and smiles I didn't know I needed to get out. I can't wait for more

[César R. Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. I enjoyed every line of it. Patrick’s writing is powerful, agile and honest. Thanks for writing such meaningful words.

[Lyss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible poetry 💖✨️

[Jocelyn Fullmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A raw and honest account of growing up queer within Mormonism, with a clear call to action— LDS parents of LGBTQ+ kids: ask yourselves, what can I do to make my child’s life more livable?