A small story poem of 115 words linked to dVerse where Bjorn and friends are writing narrative poetry. Also inspired by Sarah’s earlier “mindfulness” prompt!
brave-heart caterpillar
three centimeters long
weighs all of a gram
spiky brown-black fur
humping along unaware
crosses grandson’s path
who grasps stray fuzzball
tickly in palm of hand
gently carried on hike
until trail ends at pier
where insect pupa is
plopped into pond
as fish bait—but wait,
does it know to swim?
fur floats, frantically
w-w-w-wiggles body
up/down like ripples
across water’s surface
until grandma, empathic,
fishes live catkin out
woolie happy at rescue
dries in sunshine and
casts an intimidating
spiked shadow across
pier’s knotted plank
grandson decides to
return him to tall grass
so newly cool cat can
retell adventures to his
sheltered larval friends
photo by lynn
a poem in my pocket 
Sep 30, 2018 @ 05:44:51
A sweet tale. I like the thought of the caterpillar telling his friends about his adventures. I hope he becomes a beautiful butterfly soon–before it gets too cold.
Oct 01, 2018 @ 14:23:12
Me too! (even a moth can fly)
Sep 29, 2018 @ 12:20:15
Tale of a wooly worm (that’s what we called fuzzy caterpillars in my day). If the wooly worms were black, they predicted a severe winter; if they were brown they predicted a mild one. I know it’s so. The farmer, who delivered fresh eggs in my neighborhood (the “egg man”), told us all! An entertaining tale!
Sep 29, 2018 @ 18:19:47
Oh no, this one looked black to me!! Thanks for your comment, Bev 🙂
Sep 29, 2018 @ 02:45:01
He’s lucky to have you there – boy AND caterpillar. Empathy is something we have to learn and practice, I think.
Sep 29, 2018 @ 10:35:32
Thank you, Sarah 🙂
Sep 28, 2018 @ 15:43:21
This was sweet… and may all boys grow hearts as big as this when they stiffen to men.
Sep 28, 2018 @ 22:30:14
Thanks, Bjorn…his daddy has a big heart so he has good example.
Sep 28, 2018 @ 13:42:36
I love stories like these, where young boys still have angelic hearts.
Sep 28, 2018 @ 13:47:34
Grandmas tend to see them in a cherubic light…but he was the the one who tossed the bugger in the pond!
Sep 28, 2018 @ 09:53:51
Nice how she fished the catkin out rather than it becoming fish bait.
Sep 28, 2018 @ 11:41:09
Fish weren’t biting 😉
Sep 28, 2018 @ 07:52:43
it must have had so many adventures to tell its sheltered larval friends, what a really wonderful story told in beautiful poetry, would surely make any child smile and want a little caterpillar playmate
Sep 28, 2018 @ 09:02:55
aw, thanks, Gina! A true life adventure with my 4 yr. old grandson who finds insects most fascinating!
Sep 28, 2018 @ 16:52:17
that is such a lovely adventure for the two of you, their innocence and wonder is so precious to behold, you are blessed
Sep 28, 2018 @ 22:33:30
indeed, i am blessed!