Poetry Sunday: To a Butterfly by William Wordsworth

I spent much of Saturday afternoon in my backyard watching butterflies come and go. Gulf Fritillaries, Yellow Sulphurs, Giant Swallowtails, Black Swallowtails, the occasional Monarchs... So many different kinds and all of them beautiful. Then I went inside to search for a poem to feature in this post and what should catch my eye but this poem? Serendipity, you are my friend and ally!  

To a Butterfly 

by William Wordsworth

I’ve watched you now a full half-hour,
Self-poised upon that yellow flower;
And, little Butterfly! Indeed
I know not if you sleep or feed.
How motionless! – not frozen seas
More motionless! And then
What joy awaits you, when the breeze
Hath found you out among the trees,
And calls you forth again!

This plot of orchard-ground is ours;
My trees they are, my Sister’s flowers.
Here rest your wings when they are weary;
Here lodge as in a sanctuary!
Come often to us, fear no wrong;
Sit near us on the bough!
We’ll talk of sunshine and of song,
And summer days when we were young;
Sweet childish days, that were as long
As twenty days are now.