Journey of the Butterfly

A moth that looks like a hummingbird.
Illustration from Butterflies of America
by Lillian Davids Fazzini, 1934 

Consider the Journey of the Butterfly

A caterpillar crawls through life,

fearing birds and heels and strife.

Going nowhere very fast,

hoping, praying just to last

until the day –

may yet come soon –

when safety is found in a cocoon.

Selfish insect that it may be

hanging high in a Hickory tree,

soon it hears the woeful story

that there is no earthly glory

being buried in self-pity

when, in truth,

life can be pretty.

Thus, when ugly worm grows weary

of this useless life so dreary

then it breaks the bonds that bind it

leaving all its woes behind it

and from the tomb of its creation

works its own self liberation

'til at last it soars on high

now a grateful butterfly.

There is a lesson to be learned

from this worm whose life has turned.

I, too, can work to be free,

strive – and win – some liberty

all I need to do is change.

Daily habits re-arrange.

Join once more the human race.

Humbly pray to God for Grace

work with friends in unity

'til all selfish thoughts are gone

then, in truth, I shall be free

and my prize – SERENITY!!!

Credit: Christopher Ian Chenoweth at Positive Christianity