You begin so tiny, My Little One,
just a whisper of an egg on a Milkweed leaf.
But there you are, mellow, yellow, and striped,
delicate, yet somehow stoic
as you tenderly dream.

Soon pillar, pillar Caterpillar, off you go!
to eat, and eat the Milkweed leaf, its welcoming
home, almost yours alone, guarding and
protecting you with
its milky cream.

You shed your skin as you grow and grow,
bright orange, white, and black spiral around you,
stripes over stripes as your lovely
Milkweed offers its kindness
and sweetest esteem.

What happens next? It's so amazing, You Clever Gem!
You spin a base and hang below, spinning, spinning, spinning
from your loyal Milkweed as you both wait and wait,
anticipate, the miracle of life ever changing
in your small space.

Soon you sleep, My Dear, now beheld as a chrysalis,
a secure home as you dream about the fresh air, the sun,
the breeze flowing through your tender Milkweed flower,
its gentleness still holding you there,
keeping you in its grace.

I am overjoyed as your dreams unfold, unfold, unfold...

Oh, I have no words for what blooms and becomes --
it is YOU, glorious you, Lovely Butterfly! Now free
to flutter and fly, and fly and flutter amid your Milkweed friend
in the fresh air, the sun, and the wind --
it's all yours to embrace.

Your Milkweed keeps you in its care,
your every need lingering there.
And when you leave, as you shall do,
its love and devotion will go with you.

I admire you as you flutter by,
My Dearest, Darling Butterfly.
Your colors, bold! Your wings remark
of your joy and zeal as a new Monarch.