Old things (say the strangest things)

~

Awash on the horizon midst a pristine April day,

a caterpillar inched his way along

Wondering what waited as he slowly made his way,

whistling a happy springtime song

He found a stately sycamore was standing in his path,

its trunk did show the age of many years

Weathered by the autumn winds and winter's frigid wrath,

lightning strikes and oh so many fears

He asked, "Please tell me sycamore, what keeps you standing tall,

you've lived through every season, come and go

It seems that after all this time, you must have seen it all

and I'm so young and wish that I could know"

The tree spoke in the deepest tone, an ancient sounding voice,

it said, "My little friend, here's what you should do

Just know that things are going to change, you hardly have a choice,

embrace each one as something fun and new"

"There is one thing you said to me, I need to shed the truth,

I've not seen everything come past my eye

For right here is the answer and I think you'll find the proof,

I haven't had the joy to see you fly"

The caterpillar chuckled as he whispered in his head,

it's funny what you hear from older things,

I know not what he talks about, that last thing that he said,

I cannot fly if I do not have wings

Now feeling very tired he crawled up into the tree,

from up there he could see almost a mile

The tree said, "Please, get comfortable, for you are soon to see,

you will be in this place for quite a while"

 

He crawled onto a branch and spun a little tiny bed,

then slid inside in hopes to fall asleep

Something kept him spinning with the shiny silver thread,

till he was locked inside, now good to keep

When he awoke, he noticed that he felt so very strange,

he split the casing holding him inside

Then in the light he noticed that his body it did change,

so different, something he could never hide

The tree whispered, "Good morning and I pray that you slept good."

The caterpillar rubbed his widened eyes

"Oh Mr. Tree, there's been a change, just like you said there would,

I really didn't know or realize"

"There surely has and I can see two vivid colored wings,

so let me say hello, dear butterfly

Now gaze around at all you see and spread those pretty things,

enjoy your new life floating through the sky"

The butterfly then took to flight and soared about the field,

the tree then let a tiny tear drop fall

He watched the creature disappear as truth had now revealed,

it seems that he had finally seen it all

~