this poem written for Bite Size Contest no119 Poetry Contest, Line Gauthier, sponsor July 28, 2025
METAMORPHOSIS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
caterpillar, clad in emerald armor,
pauses at the fence, a splintered barrier.
it inches forward, a tiny architect of hope,
navigating the spaces between
the known and the unknown,
as if the journey itself is a metamorphosis.
CATERPILLAR'S* JOURNEY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a caterpillar,
clad in emerald armor,
pauses at the fence—
a splintered barrier,
a threshold of dreams.
It inches forward,
a tiny architect of hope,
navigating the spaces
between the known and the unknown,
as if the journey itself is a metamorphosis.
For a moment it hangs,
suspended in the air,
its tiny heart racing,
reflecting on the fence
that separates the past from the future.
I watch, pondering upon its journey,
the courage it takes
to inch forward,
to trust in the unseen,
to embrace the risk of change.
*Note: Poem originally written for Haiku Shack’s (Creative Ramblings Weekly prompt) July 28, 2025. This is my original poem
The giant caterpillar ate my shed
That’s okay, the color was an awful red
With a burp and a grin, the caterpillar ate my cat Quin
Quin was getting old, I said, calm once again.
That giant caterpillar slid under my bed.
A place I no longer feel safe laying my head.
I am sleeping at the neighbor’s down the road.
She is missing her husband, her dog and a horny toad.
three bear cubs
walked out of the trees
onto the driveway...
they were coated
from head to tail
with caterpillars...
and spent the next
half hour licking the
crawling protein off...
it was not to be wasted
according to instinct too
prepare for next winter now...
len
"If I were meant to soar up there with you,"
said the creepy caterpillar to the colourful butterfly,
fluttering by overhead,
"and not stay crawling earthbound here instead,
I would have been born with wings,
and it will be over my body when dead,
akin to a murder of crows,
before you'll get me up
in one of those
funny-looking flying things."
The unknown fate of the caterpillar
Will it be butterfly or moth
Beauty or disgust
The caterpillar doesn't know
While it spins is cocoon
And begins it's compulsory service
Waiting and waiting
To see what it becomes
At last the moment...
My bitterness emerges
white wings glow floating
blue breeze dance on marigolds
caterpillar dreams
I watched a caterpillar climb a tree
Wondering why in the world not me,
Taking it as a fortuitous sign
While seeing that poor critter climb.
Holding my breath with squinted eyes
Thinking to myself, how very wise
We humans are by strange design
While seeing that poor critter climb.
Minute by minute in our eternal now
His journey and mine combined somehow,
Over the branches and through the vines
While seeing that poor critter climb.
Under summer skies and wandering winds
Waiting to see where his journey ends,
When butterfly wings suddenly spread
And that critter flies before my eyes, instead.
© Terrell Martin, 02/09/2025
Marching Caterpillar
So the caterpillar has many feet;
Yet He’s not in the army, nor eats meat;
He has rhythm dances a funky beat git down;
Addiction now doesn’t have any teeth frowns;
Running down, the crowded streets;
12/10/2024
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr. 2024©
Caterpillar, where are you going?
Somewhere the cold wind ain't blowing?
I will surely hate to see you go.
Take care, the gardener likes to mow.
First, you stretch out, and then up you bunch.
Watch out for the foot, lest you go scrunch.
You can bend, but you will never break.
You haven't a bone for heaven's sake.
I want to say you are fantastic -
Gooey inside, outside elastic.
One day, I hope you will flutter by -
When you're a pretty butterfly.
sat a caterpillar
crossed legged
crosses like a line of kisses
on a stool in beetle’s kitchen
sat a cat upon a pillow
purring snore
against the door
bathed in sunlight fidgeting
beetle cooks a finely crop
stolen then by cheeky frog
they berate and cry at him
aghast at greed’s a’happening
The caterpillar inched
Up the branch
Up the branch
Up the branch
The caterpillar inched
So, he could eat
The caterpillar went
Down the branch
Down the branch
Down the branch
The caterpillar went
Down the branch
He saw a treat
Dapper coachman frog wore his top hat with star power
He travels this route regularly, always at the thirteenth hour.
His steed is a caterpillar who hails from the Bigtown Bower.
He cringes sometimes, when there is a storm or hard rain shower.
This caterpillar
Fell out the tree
Fell out the tree
Fell out the tree
This caterpillar
Fell out the tree
Now he can’t see
Would you like to be a butterfly
with wings and fancy stuff?
Would you like a metamorphosis?
Make sure you eat enough!
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