Sometimes caterpillars come with such amazing shapes and colors and spines and fur and toxins and appetites that I wonder why they even bother becoming butterflies. Why give up a life of carefree gluttony for flight and nectar and mating?
I think that is a question best answered by the poets among us. It's an answer a lot of our refuse-to-leave-the-nest youth (and not so young) don't want to hear.
Oct 10, 2009
Giving Up Gluttony
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11 comments:
Cool series, The image of that "curled up" fella has incredible details...Thomas
I can tell you why they give up gluttony, and I'm no poet:
Sex.
ugly?
fascinating, ever so cool and great shots
Hmmm. Why give up being a caterpillar to be a butterfly. Interesting question. I guess the best answer is : destiny.
You asked for a poem, so here is one (with immense apologies to Tennessee Williams).
How Calmly Does the Caterpillar
How calmly does the caterpillar realize its days are growing shorter?
It does not cry, cannot despair, it does not know that what is there
Are fewer days of happy munching of twigs and leaves and blades of grass.
Soon these happy days shall be: gone, past forever.
And a second history shall commence, pupation : curled in its own skin
A butterfly to begin, whose chronicle no longer holds lounging in the leafy grove,
But flitting here and there in desperate haste
To find nectar and a mate.
We all could serve to learn from this
Long days of leafy youth lead to short rewards. For nectar rare shall ne’er provide
The longer pleasure of limitless green. And gaudy wings cannot compete
With caterpillars’ frightening hairs and multiple feet
Masterful poem! You should identify yourself, anonymous. You need to be lauded.
Thank you. It was fun to write.
I can write poetry, too!
"There once was a larva from Nantucket..."
Watch it, anonymous. Watch it!
Wow, beautiful pics and prose! I think to fly would be magnificent so I would choose the short but sweet life of a butterfly.
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