To a Butterfly - William Wordsworth

To a Butterfly - William Wordsworth

I have watched you now a full half-hour,

Self-poised upon the yellow flower;

And, little Butterfly! indeed

I know not whether you sleep or feed.

How motionless! – not frozen seas

More motionless!  and then

What joy awaits you, when the breeze

Hath found you out among the trees,

And calls you forth again.


This plot of orchard-ground is ours;

My trees they are, my Sister’s flowers;

Here rest your wings when they are weary;

Here lodge as in a sanctuary!

Come often to us, fear no wrong;

Sit near us on the bough!

We’ll talk of sunshine and of song,

And summer days, when we were young;

Sweet childish days, that were as long

As twenty days are now.


-            William Wordsworth

Next post

Leave a comment