Looking back I really hate myself
That adventurous young teen
That explored the woods and fields
Hoping to find butterlies
To take them home, pinning them
In a box to display the all to see
Getting lists of lists of those rare ones
That might be found in the woods
Or skimming over the ponds or streams
Just a short distant walk from home
They were of course beautiful
But not so much when they were dead
And now in my advanced years
I very much enjoy seeing them fly
Flitting over the garden flowers
Tasting the many plants nectar
But lasting little more that summer
Before time is called for them
As cool autumn says time is up
And their offspring breed next year
Well, at least you have lived to arrive at a better understanding and feel remorse – and also to teach your children and grandchildren better. I love your lines about the present – beautiful.
ReplyDeleteChanges changes, we all must go through changes
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday Robin
Much💛love
They are so much more beautiful flying about and landing on a flower. So fun to watch them feed.
ReplyDeleteI'm in that wonderful woods with you, Robin. Good point, butterflies are made for us to watch, not to put in boxes or jars for them to die early.
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Your retrospection brought to my mind a young me and my friend climbing the rafters in our barn and knocking down the nests of barn swallows just for kicks. I guess we account for the term "older and wiser"!
ReplyDeleteOne of my aunts collected and pinned butterflies to a velvet board. I found it really creepy and still do. I love watching them flutter about. My Mother came back as a yellow butterfly.
ReplyDeleteRegrets...we all have them.
ReplyDeleteOne of those regrettable memories, but you appreciate their beauty and lives now.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was very young, I used to do the same thing with flowers--cut them and collect them for my amusement. I, too, regret those days. Today, like you, I prefer to let living things live--they look so much prettier as nature intended them... blooming... flying.
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