The Dragon and The Caterpillar.

( Story of an unlikely friendship )

What a lovely day it is,
The Caterpillar thought
As she climbed down from the tree

What’s that shiny thing over there
May be I should
Go in the meadow and see

She scurried down
On her hundred little toes
And reached ...
A shiny green mountain was it ?

It seemed like a creature,
And It definitely moved.
She climbed up and shouted
as politely as she could

"Excuse me !!
What are you?
Pray tell me, if you would !!"

The Dragon was shaken
out of his reveries
And cautiously opened one eye
And then both

And stared .. astonished
At Something very small
sitting on the tip of his nose!!

And Demanding to know Who HE was!
He had never in his life seen
anything so small

The Dragon, a polite and peaceful guy
Who liked nothing better than
Dozing in the sun and
Blowing smoke rings
through his nose,

He searched his brain
for a suitable reply…
‘I am a Dragon, I think,
at least
That’s what I have been told!!

Now if you don’t mind,
Pray tell me what YOU are,
If I may be so bold?"

The Caterpillar pondered
Confused and replied,
"I am green, I am shiny-
I think I am a Dragon too,

A little Dragon now, I know.
But I’ll grow up
And become a BIG Dragon
With wings and smoke.
Just like you."

The dragon cocked his head
trying to take a good look
From side to side.

She didn’t look like any dragon
He had ever seen
Little or otherwise.

But he was a polite and peaceful guy
Who liked nothing better than
dozing in the sun
Blowing smoke rings
through his nose.

So He decided to hold his peace,
and nodded
Almost dislodging poor Caterpillar
from her perch.

There sprang between them
a beautiful friendship.
They told each other
the forest gossip.

The Dragon loved to hear
The secrets of the forest
And The Caterpillar loved to watch
the fire and smoke.

Every now and then she tried to blow,
A few rings of her own!

Together they planned
to roam the far lands
And one day caterpillar
Went home to sleep.-Yawn !!

The Dragon,
Not quite understanding
Where his friend has gone.
He waited in the meadow,
Patient, but forlorn.

She woke with a start,
Was it hours? was it days?
Poor Dragon must be waiting!

She rushed down the tree
On her hundred little.. toes??
Where were her toes ?
What were these
Long black spindly things?!
She couldn’t climb down
and clumsily lost her footing

and
down
and down
she fell,
with wind
rushing
past her
as she fell
on the ground…..
....and bright wings
unfurled themselves
and she floated !!!

She had WINGS !
Bright Yellow
with red dots on-
Now she too was a Dragon!

She flew to him Happily
And shouted “Hey! Look at Me!!"

The Dragon looked
at the little patch of color
Dancing in the air joyously

His little friend was Back!
And just LOOK at her!!
He watched entranced.
the Butterfly’s dance.

The Caterpillar-now a Butterfly
On her favorite perch she sat,
Now that she too had wings,
It was time to start.

They traveled the far
and unknown lands
experiencing the world anew.

That she wasn’t a dragon,
The Butterfly never ever knew,

And Dragon? He kept his peace
For he had sensed one eternal truth
That butterfly too had seen.

Outside we may be
Different kinds,
But we are all Dragons within.