to honour and protect

 
They only live for ten hours, you know, or three days, or barely a week, or something like that, said Justin to me gently, puzzled as to why I stood there with the ailing butterfly in my hand. And I thought well then that's a lifetime, and a whole new way to think about ten hours or three days or barely a week.

You are good and beautiful and perfect, I whispered to the butterfly as he wriggled faintly, beaten by a broken wing. He seemed to be listening. You go on to be an elephant or a brook trout or a tiny baby boy, and have fantastic adventures of a whole new kind. You take your glorious yellow with you, thread it into your next soul so we all can admire it forever.

This morning I went back to the hosta and he'd been blown by the wind into its stem forest. I righted him, delicate as he was, already having lost the moisture and suppleness of life, and spoke to him again but this time he was elsewhere, and all that seemed left was just his shell.

But I know better.

+++

Today, share with us a vision of something that's moved you deeply - no matter how small. 

Comments

[kristin]

"take your glorious yellow with you, thread it into your next soul " kate your words are so moving, so beautiful.
my little guy admiring a tiny miracle.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2571573834/in/set-72157603783772137/

[Michele]

Beautiful! The picture is beautiful and so is the story. Thanks for sharing!

[jen lemen]

"now the ears of my ears awake
now the eyes of my eyes are opened"
e.e. cummings

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenlemen/2547324585/in/photostream/

this place and this vision:
a wide open field in a faraway land
a kiss goodbye from an old friend
a hundred girls mine all mine
a mystery in a wish still unraveling
a tiny seed and a deep hope
for a dream come true

[Ashley]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashleydano/2529997892/in/set-72157605291505940/

my grandmother passed away a little over a week ago and i've been lighting candles every night...just to remember. there is comfort in the tiny flames.

[Marcie]

The simplicity and details are what it's all about.
Your words are simply beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing...
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=424

[mnkathy]

Flyin' a kite with my girl. She never wanted it to end.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25773211@N07/2584463290/

Beautiful post Kate.

[e.darcy]

I wanted to mail my mom a wish...Since we are more than 4,000 miles apart-I wanted her to know that I'm with her, that I think about her, and so-I picked a handful of wishes to send...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edarcy/2563494046/

But days later they still cling, float, and wait on the living room floor, in my journal, in the wind breezing through the open windows...

[Staci]

oh how beautiful! both your writing and your photograph...

[MelodyA.]

That is EXACTLY what my girls and I say to something that is leaving this life. This weekend we had a small bird that was wished into an eagle (and a turtle by the 3 yo.)

http://thehipmommasjournal.squarespace.com/journal/2008/6/16/hello-monday.html

[Kacey]

Beautiful post and beautiful photo.

I shared this photo last winter, back when I took it, but it still has the power to take my breath away. This was right out the back window of my home during a snow storm.

http://www.wineonthekeyboard.com/2008/02/03/snowy-deer/

[mary]

early morning, the world in a dewdrop, endless silence and all is possible...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/2556571166/

[melody]

Kate, thank you for sharing your soul, your beautiful words and photography...and your spirit child.

My little creature...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melsphotophun/2433619564/

[Ursula]

In our local park we have something called the Cancer Survivors Plaza. On the day of my friend's recent double mastectomy, I took my son there to pray, send her love and healing thoughts and just reflect on how this disease has touched our lives in so many ways. Especially for my friend as well as our friends 1 y.o. who is fighting (and winning) a battle with Neuroblastoma.

These are signs that guide your walk through the plaza as well as other shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuzamora/2413934129/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuzamora/2414760304/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuzamora/2413935759/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuzamora/2413927685/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuzamora/2414763812/

Happily, she has her last radiation treatment today! My heart is overjoyed today.

[camerashymomma]

good to read your words again kate.

the thread for my past couple weeks has been 'sitting with the sorrow' and this picture from this time away seems to fit the thread so well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2575593116/

[Joy]

Wow! This so hit me! Maybe because I'm feeling a bit like that beaten butterfly right now............

[teaworthy]

How lovely and alive!

[laura - dolcepics]

Breathtaking photo Kate! And thank you for sharing your insight on life and beyond.

These days our family has been in awe of the wonders of life on earth. We've been watching the Planet Earth series and it has reminded us of how amazing the cycle of life is.

http://www.dolcepics.com/dailypic/bee/

[HLiza]

Your words touched me.

We were playing at my MIL backyard when my son discovered this little duckling. It looked so unsure, scared of the world..and in need of protection. Reminds me of my kids..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hliza/2584671409/

[nicky thomas]

Good evening shutter sisters

firstly *hugs* for Kate - i skipped on over here directly from your blog with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat.

Here is the end of a week i dont want back.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/2387605639/in/photostream/

i wont say enjoy - but i wish you a peaceful, happy, healthy time ahead of you all.

nicky x

[~ kristina ~]

I'm new here...Lovely posts and photos all around.

One thing that moves me very deeply is when I have a chance to spend time in my beloved Black Hills of South Dakota. The last photo on this posting (the one of the young ferns) is the one I'm picking - there was just something so tender, vibrant, and intriguing about their rising out of the spring earth.

http://meadowlarkdays.blogspot.com/2008/06/walk-in-woods.html

[tracey]

No photo I could ever dig up could rival yours and the insights and tenderness that comes with it. This is such a beautiful post Kate and even more meaningful knowing who you are and what your lifetime has held. Thank you for giving us yet another glimpse of what really matters.

[brandi]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dandelionseeds/2559344281/

I will always be moved by looking into my dogs eyes.

[Lawyer Mama]

Oh, Kate. Your words were as beautiful as your picture.

This is corny, I know, but it never fails to move me:
http://flickr.com/photos/lawyermama/2587942152/

[Stephanie]

I have nothing to share Kate other than the fact that your writing brings me to tears. So beautifully written!

[Lyn]

I'm with Stephanie. I sit here with tears in my eyes too.
Thanks for sharing.

[Rachel Parton]

http://partonpics.blogspot.com/2008/06/droplets.html

[thordora]

My youngest, in her barrettes, the ones I hated to wear, dancing in our kitchen with the light hitting her face, like my mother brushing her across the years, finally having that girlchild she truly desired. And seeing Rosalyn sense that, stop and greet the light on her face.

[littlepurplecow]

Beautiful post. We had a nest in the rose bushes outside. Three perfect eggs yielded three precious baby birds. We'd peek in on them each day to watch their feathers form and to catch their mouths wide open as they patiently waited for their mama to return. Watching a new life take shape is such a gift. When they disappeared one day, I felt deeply saddened by the loss. It was not yet their time to fly, but I carry them with me.

[Jo]

This is just perfect. This should be a memoir of hope for grieving parents, or people who have lost. Your words about the 'glorious yellow' of the butterlfies just takes me away...what a beautiful, simple metaphor for everything important, especially your baby boy.