TESTIMONY OF A BUTTERFLY
Testimony of a Butterfly
The sky is weeping.
A shivering butterfly takes emergency shelter under a sunflower.
He could not care less, so deep is his distress.
A bee lands nearby, all dressed up in lace and shimmering velvet.
Laughingly, she shakes her drenched wings to remove the wetness.
She hums a soothing tune; her voice is all sweetness.
Her laughter has the warmth of a ray of sunshine.
She comforts his heart, telling him of wonders.
Her words dry up his tears and act as mood lifters.
She knows of a country where Happiness reigns supreme.
Its Queen is her friend and rules over countless flowers
Of breathtaking beauty and resplendent colors.
In this land of dreams, pollen is plentiful.
One never goes hungry but enjoys lengthy days
Packed with joyful service and mischievous play.
Boredom has been banished
As well as her sister, Madam Melancholy.
There is no fear of tripping in the dark,
Since all have inner lights guiding them through the night.
“The route leading there is long and perilous,
I travelled it once, thus earning my stripes.”
And joining wings without further ado,
Butterfly and Bee lift off in a splash of moisture,
Leaving in their wake, rain, clouds, and all mundane worries!
Anyas Spencer
[Initial poem written in French in 1975; adapted to English]
