At first I thought it a hummingbird: Its wings, with the full span of an open hand, were beating continuously as it hovered, sucking nectar from delicate pink flowers in the forest. Yet it was a butterfly. For the most part, its large wings were pale, almost transparent, with strong black markings. They were working hard. The rear part of the wings, though, were separated from the main part and were barely moving, seeming to act as a tail, to stabilise the magnificent creature as it performed its intricate operations with the flowers. This tail was the most striking aspect of the butterfly. It was yellow; a shocking, unashamed yellow which cried out to all “I am here! I am not afraid of life!” It was glorious.
I had never seen this type of butterfly before. Having dwelt some forty-seven years on this beautiful planet, I still see something new every day. And when I am at my most sensitive, I feel something new in every moment. Life is bountiful indeed!
