CATERPILLAR POEM

by Bev Powers

A CATERPILLAR
CRAWLED ALONG
ATE ALL DAY
GOT FULL. GOT STRONG
GREW. STRETCHED. GREW SOME MORE
SUCTION CUPS WERE THE SHOES HE WORE

DAY AFTER DAY
CLINGING SO TIGHT
EATING THOSE LEAVES
MORNING AND NIGHT

KNOWING HE'D MAKE A PERFECT SNACK,
HE HID IN HIS TREE
SAFE FROM ATTACK

MANY WERE LOOKING TO FIND HIM - YOU SEE
BUT YOU CAN NOT FIND HIM
THERE IN HIS TREE
GOD GAVE HIM A GIFT TO HELP HIM ALONG
HE BLENDS RIGHT IN WHILE HE GROWS
LONG AND STRONG

UP THERE IN HIS TREE
HE EATS THROUGH HIS DAYS
ONLY STOPPING TO REST
AND SOMETIMES HE PRAYS

THE DAY FINALLY COMES
HE CAN STOP ALL THAT EATING
HE MAKES A COCOON
GETS READY
HE'S LEAVING

FIRST HE MUST SLEEP
A FEW MONTHS OR MORE
YOU SEE - THAT IS WHAT COCOONS ARE FOR
HE'S HIDDEN
PROTECTED
SAME AS BEFORE

BUT INSIDE THERE
WHERE NO ONE CAN SEE
A CHANGE SO GREAT
WILL SET HIM FREE

FREE TO FLY WITH VELVETY WINGS
TO BE ONE OF NIGHT'S MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS

FROM THE TREE TO THE SKY
OFF HE GOES
HE'S A MOTH !

IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
SHE CALLS HIM TO HURRY
HE FLIES OFF TO FIND HER
NO NEED TO WORRY

THE NIGHT IS RIGHT WITH WARM SUMMER WEATHER
MORE CATERPILLARS ARE NEEDED
SO THEY GET TOGETHER

I LOVE THIS STORY
IT'S AMAZING AND TRUE
OF TWO CREATURES IN ONE !
DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DO ?
SUCH A FANTASTIC GIFT
FOR ME AND FOR YOU .

BEV POWERS 3 / 2001