Come, my child, come learn the lesson of the butterfly,
The lesson of the butterfly is the heartbeat of freedom and life.
Come quietly now – here, sit on this log in the glen.
Sh-h-h-h, quietly now, be still, don't move.
There, there he is, soaring on the summer breeze.
Bright wings flashing in the sunlight.
See with what glory he flies.
Joyfully sailing on a wisp of wind.
Ever onward-ever free.
Sh-h-h- quiet, now- oh, see he alights on your shoulder,
gently, silently he settles down--sh--h--h
don't move lest you startle him.
Oh, the beauty of the butterfly,
delicate velvety wings, so brilliant in color,
Yet, strong enough to catch the summer breeze and
soar to the heights.
No! No! My child, don't grasp the butterfly –
Now here is the lesson –
When you hold the butterfly's wings, as the valiant beauty
struggles against your grasp – you crush his wings –
You destroy the glorious delicate creature
when you keep it from its flight.
There now, see him go, watch his flight.
No, No, my child don't cry,
for truly this is the lesson of the butterfly – the lesson of freedom.
Don't hold, don't grasp, don't imprison –
Let him be free, with no chains to bind him, and he will return.
Yes, my child, don't force him to do your bidding,
and he will return to you.
There, sit quietly now – see – softly, gently
the butterfly returns to settle on your shoulder once again.
This then is the lesson of the butterfly –
this is the lesson of life.
Only those who are insecure and selfish wish
to imprison loved ones;
Only the selfish and inconsiderate deny freedom
to those close to them.
Let those you love be free, and they will stay with you,
and if gone for awhile, they will return to you –
as did the butterfly, when you left him free.
This is one of the most precious lessons to learn in life,
for as you acknowledge and respect the freedom of others,
Then so too, will they acknowledge and respect your freedom.
Then you will have the space to rise on the wind,
to gain the heights of all that you can be.
