Why Butterflies are Silent
The Creator of All was watching the children play one day.
“Soon these young ones will grow old and time will take it all away.
Their skin will wrinkle, hair will turn gray and their teeth will fall out.”
It was autumn, yet it was winter he was thinking about.
After watching the play of sun light and shadow on the ground,
He thought of a way to preserve the pure colors from around
The village. Into a bag he put the things that he had found.
A spot of sunlight beside the shadow of children at play,
A handful of blue from the sky, the yellow of leaves, no doubt,
Flower colors, the black of a young girl’s hair floating around.
The Creator was having fun filling his bag all along.
As an afterthought, the Creator of All threw in bird song.
He gave the bag to the children to see what they would detect.
Hundreds of butterflies flew out, singing with all due respect.
A songbird came and lit on the Creator and spoke direct.
“They’re blessed with all the colors of the rainbow and the owl’s hoot,
You gave them every shade; you can not give them our songs to boot.”
“You’re right; I made a promise that each bird would have its own song,
They are beautiful even so! These pretty things are perfect.”
That is the reason the Creator made the butterfly mute.
Author notes
This was adapted and put into rhyme from a story told by the Papago Tribe. The Papago--The Bean People--are a Southwestern tribe closely related to the Pima. They now live on a four-part reservation of almost three million acres in Arizona.
Found in "American Indian Myths & Legends". Selected and edited by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz. Published by Pantheon.
A contest entry
- N IS FOR NATIVE...Going TRIBAL on way to Z by BLUE REW by Blue Rew.
897 points, ended August 29, 2007, 13 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Butterflies Flutter By by whispernthedark.
675 points, ended May 17, 2008, 26 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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Great message. Thank you for entering the contest, good luck.
♥
whisper
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Beautiful
Ah, though butterflies are "mute" they float with such beauty and grandeur that their message is clear.
Incredible write..
Lady D
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Beautiful writing that really speaks to me (I adore butterflies). It calls to mind the story circles that were such an integral part of tribal life. Well done!Blue
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Thank you!
I love butterflies, too.
Patty
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beautiful piece of writing
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Thank you so much!
Patty
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