Butterfly
written by Alexa Zielkowski at age 13
Great Uncle Jimmy had always been somewhat of a mystery to me. We were never too close, never too far apart. His mood was hardly ever cold and serious, nor humorous and bubbly. Yet, he taught me something very important. Sometimes you don’t have to understand something to appreciate its beauty, and sometimes beauty never dies.
When I was very small, Great Uncle Jimmy worked part-time at the zoo. We could always find him in the butterfly garden. I remember traveling across the zoo on a hot day many years ago. My clumsy little feet in my clunky shoes slapped against the sidewalk as I walked with my sister and parents. The sun shone steadily from up above, bathing us in a warm splash of golden light, and causing little beads of sweat to collect just below my bangs. The air was sweet, but I wiped the saltwater sweat off of my brow with a rather unpleasant expression etched onto my face. Although beautiful and bright, the heat was beginning to wear on me, and my legs ached with every step. Yet, excitement kept me trudging forward as I thought about seeing Uncle Jimmy at the garden full of butterflies.
We continued our journey across the zoo, which was lined with exhibits on all sides, each one decorated with vegetation and each one displaying yet another foreign creature. All the ones we passed lured me closer with interest, but we had a final destination to reach, and I did my best to keep up with my family. Finally, after what seemed like a marathon of hiking in the summer sun and a whole Noah’s Ark full of mysterious animal friends, we arrived at a large building with a magnificent domed glass ceiling. Eager to escape the blistering outside temperatures, I raced to the entrance.
Once we arrived at the butterfly exhibit, we quickly found Uncle Jimmy. We greeted him politely, and he did the same. Uncle Jimmy’s gray mustache wiggled atop his lip like a furry caterpillar when he spoke. The small crinkles at the corners of his eyes made me smile. Soon after we had said our hellos, Uncle Jimmy began to show us around.
All around me, luscious plants bloomed. Flowers of all shades of orange, pink, and purple speckled brilliant green bushes. Large stones decorated the garden, and a clean turquoise pool ran through the whole room. Best of all were the vibrant butterflies dancing through the air in a spectacular rainbow of spirited little creatures. Out of all the critters I had seen so far that day, these were by far the most enchanting. I wanted so badly for one to land on me, but the gentle little things seemed to always keep a distance from my clumsy toddler hands. Uncle Jimmy, however, had no trouble getting a lovely, velvet blue colored butterfly to land softly on his mustache. It seemed to almost kiss his cheek. I giggled at the sight, but was truly amazed at how peaceful the butterfly looked. It was as if the garden radiated happiness, and Uncle Jimmy was the source.
At family gatherings, he talked with the adults and was gentle around the kids. For my birthday, he would always send a card. I was familiar with bits and pieces of his past, yet I never got to know him too well. Rather, I observed his manners from a distance, as I had the alluring butterflies. As he aged, his memory began to fade. Slowly, he drifted away from reality and became lost in a more foggy sort of world. His mind was not as sharp as it used to be, his body not as strong. But even as he began to fly off to other lands, his colors never faded. I never did fully understand him; I never did capture him in my palm. What did happen was greater than that. When he finally lifted off and flew away on a journey all of his own, I realized what he truly was. He was a butterfly — gentle, strong, beautiful, spirited.
About the Poet
Alexa was a prolific writer who enjoyed reading, spending time with friends, and being out in nature. She was devoted to spreading kindness and love to all those around her and was fascinated by the mind and how we perceive the world.
Next (Story: Never Forsaken) >
< Previous (Art: King Parrot and Australian Native Honey Bee)
Photo by Frederica Black on Pexels.com.
