34
POEMS BY CLARA A. MERRILL
THE CAPTIVE BUTTERFLY
(A true tale)
One morn as I walked in the meadow
Where flooded the sun's golden light
Athwart tree and shrub—mid the grasses
A butterfly gorgeous and bright
Where flooded the sun's golden light
Athwart tree and shrub—mid the grasses
A butterfly gorgeous and bright
Was caught in a web which a spider
Had deftly and craftily wrought;
Aloft as a snare she had placed it
And the unwary butterfly caught.
Had deftly and craftily wrought;
Aloft as a snare she had placed it
And the unwary butterfly caught.
Vainly the poor insect fluttered
To be freed from the web's fleecy fold;
But its wings were caught fast in its meshes
And its fate could be plainly foretold.
To be freed from the web's fleecy fold;
But its wings were caught fast in its meshes
And its fate could be plainly foretold.
It appealed to my heart so pathetic
Ne'er thought I to ignore its strife
It was one of God's own little creatures
And it had a good right to its life.
Ne'er thought I to ignore its strife
It was one of God's own little creatures
And it had a good right to its life.
