Butterfly and Pollywog

A purple butterfly set down

beside a pollywog —

Who reproached her for encroaching

upon a growing frog,

He looked into her tiny eyes

with curiosity,

Then looked in vain with much disdain

at this atrocity…

For butterflies in gardens flit

to rest among the flowers —

Not on logs with pollywogs

to pass the summer hours!

A strange but lovely butterfly

the pollywog did think,

But did she know he soon would grow

and eat her in a wink?

He thought a while what he could do

to save the naïve creature,

And was glad to spy a lily pad

who surely would beseech her

So with a gesture of his tail,

he called the lily close

And bade the butterfly goodbye —

with a nudge and, adios!

The moral of this story is

quite simple, you will find:

You must always trust your heart —

The best choice is- be kind!

Susan retired three years ago after a thirty-five-year career in hospice social work, at which time she began writing poetry. Her work is inspired by her patients’ journeys, the beauty of nature, and the human condition. A number of her poems have been published in literary journals online, including Verse Virtual, Lothlorien, and Impspired. She lives near the Jersey Shore with her husband and Bernese Mountain Dog, Dottie.