Turtle

Mr. Turtle is set in his own ways and preparing for a nice day under the sun, when Miss Butterfly suddenly crashes the party and has a heated conversation.

"Turtle" Prt. # 1

To find a place to lay his head, turtle crept along the ground. 

His usual scuffle, to the usual spot, always oblivious to the world around.

“No, not here, no not there.” turtle mumbled

So, with a shuffle to the right, no…, a shuffle to the left, turtle wondered which place would be best.

Peeking out of his shell for a better view, turtle spotted a spot, but it struck him as new.

Into his shell turtle deeply withdrew, to think about this spot which he may soon choose.

“I’m fine where I am, I don’t need to move.” 

“This is nice, it’s cozy.   LOOK! I’m surrounded by yellow flowers and pink-pocket posies.”

“What better way to spend the day?” turtle thought, comfortable, in his own way.

Settling in, and moving about from shell to foot; turtle let it all out.

Finally at ease with his choice to stay, turtle retired for the rest of the day.   

But, from a ways away, carried a tune to turtle’s ear.

Unpleasant it was, at first to hear.

“Who would disturb me within my own home?” turtle thought. 

“After all I have done to pick this spot?!”

The tune grew louder, he could hear, flapping of wings coming near.

Until, abruptly it stopped and turtle new… someone was sitting with him in his spot. 

“Unacceptable!” turtle screamed, throwing his head out to see what was to be seen!

To turtle’s surprise, staring straight back, a magnificent butterfly simply sat.

Adorned with Gold and brown, and yellow and blue, with dark hues of purple, and even green too.

Truly amazing, a sight to behold, but the brush of her wings made turtle cold. 

“Think!, think!, think!” repeated in turtles head, but the more he thought he was thinking, nothing seemed to happen instead.

Quickly turtle sank.  “Back inside!” turtle thought

“Maybe Miss Butterfly won’t see if I hide!”

“Too late.” echoed Miss Butterfly, “ and…no need to be shy. For generations my family has traveled this sky.”

“You don’t understand!” yelled turtle “This is my spot, not your spot, that’s why I’m inside.”

“And by the way,’ Miss Butterfly’, I… A M…N O T… shy!”

 

“Then you won’t mind if I stay for the day”, smiled Miss Butterfly 

“Besides, these flowers have pollen, the pedals have fallen, and blanket the ground that’s around me. Your spot, this spot, reminds me of my spot, the place that you would have found me!”

“Hmph, home?”  said turtle, “this is my home not yours. I chose this spot with which to lay, and here you sit asking to stay?”

Standing up, turtle chuckled, “I am bemused Miss Butterfly.  To think, that you thought, that I would be willing to share my spot!”

“What has happened to the world, that a turtle cannot sit and simply sun bathe in peace and quiet?”

Miss Butterfly rose and spread her huge wings, causing a stir of wind and things.

“First of all turtle” replied Miss Butterfly, “ you have been rude for which I forgive, but may I just ask, ‘why is it you live?’ alone and remote amidst these vines and thistles. Here, where the wind does not hum, it hisses and whistles. Here, where the sun only shines in one spot, and that grass you are on? Well, it is brown with rot.”

“No…, I have seen much better spots in my day.  Spots with grass and flowers and trees, fresh wind that carries a crisp cool breeze, over streams that babble and brook, filled with stones all rolling afoot.”

Turtle interrupted, “Well,… if my home is so bad, then you won’t mind I ask. Please take your leave from here, it’s a simple task.” 

 “All I wish to do is be in the sun, free from you and everyone.  Is it too much to ask, simply to bask without this shadow your massive wings cast?!”

“ You see? Some turtles are turtle- turtles, and other turtles are me.  I am who I am the best as I can, and that is what drives me to be. You ask why I live, remote and removed, the answer hereto is: I’m older than you. One hundred and three to be precise… I was hoping for four before you knocked at my door.”

“Turtle”, whispered Miss Butterfly, “ I too once lived in a shell much like you.  High up in a tree, as high as can be, a caccoon atop the perfect spot.  Nestled on a gnarly knot under the branch of a Sycamore. It was splendid.”

“Oh?, if your spot is as you say, why not stay?”  said turtle.

Miss Butterfly outstretched her wings.  “One day I left my shell in flight, with no direction in mind, leaving behind my perfect spot nestled on a gnarly knot under a Sycamore branch. I stopped along the way, but your spot, this spot, is where I have decided to stay. Had I 100 more years to live, as you have lived already, I would fly back to my perfect spot atop that gnarly knot.