Rhyme and Reason: The Tale of the Tree (A Parable for Children of All Ages)

A homely little caterpillar, inched along a leaf,
then to a branch, onto the trunk, to grass, to his relief.
He came upon a puddle, and he noticed his refection.
He saw himself and his heart sank, upon his self-inspection.
The Mourning Dove arrived just then, he lived with, in the tree
He said “I wish I looked like you, instead; I look like me.”
“I wish that I was beautiful. I wish that I could fly.”
“I wish I could move quickly.” And then he began to cry.
The Dove said “Crawl up on my back. I’ll take you for a ride.”
She flapped her wings and then she stopped, and they began to glide.
“You can fly.” The dove said, “All you need to do is ask.”
“Your friends will always be around, to help you with this task.”
The dove then dropped him off next to, their friend the Mockingbird.
The Caterpillar said, “You sing, the sweetest songs I’ve heard.”
The Mockingbird said “Sing with me. Don’t worry; have no fears.”
“To your friends your little voice, is music to our ears.”
The Peacock strode right up to them, and fanned out his great tail.
The Caterpillar gasped in awe, and watched as he regaled.
“I wish I wasn’t homely. I just don’t know what I’ll do.”
The Peacock said, “When you we all look, we see a friend in you.”
The Caterpillar inched away, to ask the Wise Old Owl.
Of all the creatures in the tree, he was the wisest fowl.
He told the Owl about his friends, and asked him what would be.
The Owl in all his wisdom, gave him this advice for free.
“My boy, you must have patience. Spin a bed and go to sleep.”
“Rest ye well and pray the Lord, your little soul to keep.”
“Be content with who you are. And soon the world will see,
the beauty that’s inside of you, emerge right in this tree.”
The lowly little Caterpillar, went to sleep that night.
He dreamed that he was beautiful, and had the gift of flight.
When he awoke he peeked outside, to greet his friends and fellows.
In the night he’d grown two wings, of orange and black and yellow.
Once a Caterpillar, but today thing of grace
He flapped his wings and flew up with, a smile upon his face.
He thanked the Owl and Mockingbird Bird, the Peacock and the Dove.
No matter how he looked before, they propped him up with love.
So when you’re feeling sad, and you don’t feel like you’re enough.
When others make you feel you’re weak, so they can all feel tough.
Remember even Caterpillars, turn to Butterflies.
Reminding us we’re beautiful, each time they flutter by!