Summary

The text recounts a series of encounters with wildlife, including a butterfly, a frog, and a squirrel, and the author's compassionate responses to each situation.

Abstract

The narrative begins with the author noticing a butterfly on their deck, appearing to be in distress. The author attempts to help by providing water and food, then continues on their morning walk. Along the way, they encounter a frog in the road, which they successfully encourage to move to safety. The story shifts to a past memory of finding an injured squirrel, which, despite efforts, did not survive. The next day, the author experiences a moment of connection with a butterfly, possibly the same one from the deck, suggesting a cycle of life and gratitude. The author reflects on the interconnectedness of life, quoting a verse from "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to emphasize the importance of loving and caring for all creatures.

Opinions

The author shows a deep sense of empathy and responsibility towards animals in distress, offering help without hesitation.
There is an appreciation for nature's beauty and a recognition of the fragility of life, as seen in the careful actions taken for the butterfly and the squirrel.
The author believes in the importance of community and cooperation in wildlife rescue, as demonstrated by involving a neighbor and a wildlife rehabilitator in the squirrel's care.
The text conveys a philosophy that all living things are worthy of care and attention, reflecting a holistic view of nature and humanity's role within it.
The author finds solace in the possibility of the butterfly's survival and the ongoing cycle of life, despite the squirrel's unfortunate fate.
The inclusion of the poem's verse suggests the author's spiritual or moral belief that love and care for all beings is a form of prayer and connection to the divine.

On Nature’s Creatures

All things both great and small

I spied a butterfly sitting on my deck. I went to look closer and saw it struggle, unable to take off. Was it hurt or just stunned from a crash landing, perhaps? I dribble a little water from the watering can nearby in case it’s thirsty. It sidesteps away.

Then I pick a red geranium flower from a potted plant within reach and lay it next to the sweet creature in case it is hungry. It does not move toward the flower, nor does it move away.

I look up to the sky and give thanks for the cloudy day as the butterfly would certainly bake in the direct summer sun. And I continued on my way as I was headed out for my morning walk.

With My Little Eye

After a while, I round a bend when I spy with my little eye a frog sitting right in the middle of the road. I remember an old joke about a frog with no legs going deaf when told to jump. But this frog had all of its legs.

“Frog, jump!” I command while walking close by to encourage it to move. But that frog stayed put.

After several repeat performances and still no movement from the frog, I pick a long-stemmed wildflower from the side of the road to tickle it from behind, hoping to shoo it off the road and into the tall grasses and weeds beyond.

Success!

“Big cars are not on the lookout for little frogs,” I say as I walk on, smiling from my second wildlife rescue attempt of the day.

Bittersweet

I remembered years ago when I was out for a jog I had come across a young squirrel thrashing in the leaves at the side of the road. It clearly had fallen from the large tree above and was injured.

I stop a biker who shrugs and bikes on, so I jog home and call my neighbor who has taken in more critters and nursed them back to health than anyone else I know. She goes to grab some gloves and tells me to find a box.

We drive to where I had seen the squirrel. It was still thrashing about. My neighbor dons her gloves and puts the squirrel in the box and I bring us all home.

As this young animal looks like it needs some intensive care, I call a friend who is a certified wildlife rehabilitator and who lives only two towns away. She tells me to bring in the squirrel, which she immediately puts into an incubator and administers fluids.

The next day, I get a phone call.

“The squirrel died. But I want you to know it didn’t die afraid, and it didn’t die alone.”

We were both crying.

Butterfly Kisses

On my return from my walk on this day that I remember about the squirrel, I see no frog in the road and no butterfly on the deck. I wonder about the butterfly, though. Did it get eaten perhaps? Such is nature.

But the next morning, while watering the gardens, a butterfly with the same coloring as the one on the deck the day before is flying all around me.

Are you THE butterfly, I wonder.

I felt a yes and that it was saying thank you. I could feel the love as my caring is love too.

A Poem to Keep in Your Pocket

A favorite verse of mine from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge comes to mind.

He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small; For the dear God who loveth us, He made and loveth all.

To all the butterfly and frog and squirrel kind of people out there, I see you.