On a camera-walk, by the field one day, I stood idly staring across the way, when I chanced to see a most puzzling sight - For flitting about from flower to flower, in this tranquil wild, was a butterfly ridden by a fairy child! Oh why, I wondered, would this be? So, out of curiousity, I called aloud, "Butterfly, please do tell, why a fairy child rides you across this dell?" Circling round and hovering near, from the butterfly, no word did I hear - but the fairy child chimed most eagerly, and this is the tale t'was told to me: "Wise folk know when seeking herbs, to pass the first - to let it be, picking only the bit you really need from the second plant you hap' to see... and thinking thus, I took my rest 'neath the first sweet herb along the path - But lo, from slumber very deep was wrenched and shaken and careless beat! Like useless chaff, I fell one wing sorely crumpled and the other drifting free, away from me! Then came a crawling caterpillar, oh so gently rolling me beyond the path where big feet tread, away from where I'd made my bed - and laid a leaf atop of me, and nudged quite close an acorn cap of dew and a berry bright for my daily food. Left, I was, to heal and rest, whilst off the caterpillar climbed upon a stalk far o'er my head. Three days I lay beneath that leaf, well-knowing that I'd never fly - but brave I was, and wouldn't cry! I learned to walk and run and climb, but how I missed the gift to fly ... (and with this, she breathed a child's sigh) Then one bright morn, from a dangling womb that hung from high upon a stalk that stood nearby, and danced and swayed, though no wind here strayed, came a brightly guilded butterfly - circling once, then to a dive, gently gliding twixt my knees, lifting up, supporting me... so together, we do fly." *************************************************** Dedicated to all those who demonstrate compassion without seeking compensation.