Marked by Metamorphosis

There is something that passes by, 

with my every move.--Oh look!

Is that a caterpillar

prancing in my shoe?

I watch as it trails higher,

going slowly up my ankle.

Not fearful, but uncertain

with this little sample. 

As it moves,

my once tiny foot 

and leg grow stronger.

With every caterpillar foot lifted,

my limbs, longer. 

Why is this doing so?

It dances to my stomach,

making it grow and shrink.

Then jumps onto my hand,

to stop and think. 

It rolls on every finger, 

and goes underneath my palm.

Not wrinkles, but age,

showing upon my arm. 

It makes its way to my elbow,

and starts to hang low.

Then shuffles to my shoulder,

now I need to know. 

What this caterpillar is doing, 

and why it’s changing so.  

It goes up to my neck,

and touches my ear. 

I can now hear different,

and almost more clear. 

It moves to my mouth,

and new words I didn’t know,

begin to come out. 

With voice,

I once used to yield,

though since those foots grazed my mouth

my lips then never sealed. 

Then to my nose, 

it waits just outside.

And without warning, 

new smells begin to arise. 

It wanders slowly,

between my brows,

then starts to spin, 

and slow somehow. 

It looks at me with furrowed brow

I can't help but notice a simple frown. 

It had not enough to nest,

so it asked for some hair.

I offered willingly,

as much needed with spare.

So there it was,

not a caterpillar,

but cocoon.

Wrapped around in 

I and Its loom.

I wait there patiently 

to see what happens next, 

soon a butterfly breaks free

from where it’s vexed. 

The butterfly clapped its wings 

so slow, 

and paused a moment, 

soft and low. 

Before she took off, 

wild and free,

she turned 

and looked back lovingly.

She told me to look at what she has done,

and when I did,

I saw the change that was needed to come,

She flew away 

and never looked back.

I think I could learn a thing or two from that.

Cover photo credit: Gardening Know How