The Twig

Poem for parents 
By Neil Schwab 

A Grey oak tree stands tall. Its truck big, thick and brawny.

Atop its foliage, a branch sits and sways.. It gathers strength and stirs a spell each day.

Just now the tree proudly spouts a shoot. The shoot transforms slowly, a twig emerges on its side. 

Still. Silent, the twig it grows, turns into the light of the day.. gathering strength for it is not without reason, a purpose it knows will be shown one day.

The inchworm inches slowly, looking for food, without a home, without a friend, No stem to cling too, it inches toward the twig. 

Not knowing one day that will be provide safety and the Twig purpose. .

That caterpillar sees that shoot sprout into the twig. It watches and when ready builds a carefully constructed cocoon for a metamorphous for it change.

A gift for the twig, or is the twig merely a run of the mill anchor for the inchworm to use, then leave once done with; does this twig see the catipller as a pirate of sorts? Commandeering the twig for the time it needs, to use as a tool for its expansion, or is the twig happy to be there for this might be seen as a gift for the lowly twig. 

I saw something just as remarkable, for it was for me to see and you to feel, it was the life I saw spout from you and the cocoons we built in you, made from our love for us. Like ppl turn into parents, like the twig to the worm, a safe place to change.

The cocoon becomes frail, yet within its construction there is strength.

Fearless and tireless the cocoon holds on to the twig, the twig to the cocoon. Stronger and tighte it grips right till the end, it provides a future miracle to become into existence. It is a butterfly.

Like the Butterfly before me, she leaves, leaving the twig alone never to provide such a purpose again.

Purpose over, twig forgotten, but not without a legacy within the butterfly.

For without the twig where would the caterpillar have built its cocoon? 

What is more important?  The support that was provided or the love the twig g had if it could be know to have a purpose atop the oak tree

Or does the twig sit in sorrow needing repayment and then neglected.

Or 

The butterfly that leaves the foundation of her life without a thought of the sacrifice spent

Or

It is the happiness it brings to the twig knowing that only I , the twig, cld give what was needed for that life to be forever changed.

Yet you fly so high and could fly anywhere, there is so much to be, so much more with your wings and power and talents. I wanted you to be free. Feel free and live freely.. be so much more now u r free! I never did expect you to see me, the twig, the structure that watched you change and so fast and without care left me here… broken and covered in the remainder of the cocoon that was left on the twig crying in the spring rain. 

Yes beautiful you are butterfly.. I held you tight, loved you long before you could love and I watched and you pushed and kicked me away. To try and be free, what I could not understand was… why the struggle you were always free when with me.. you did the holding, you were the needy. I just cared enough to take the chance, bare the pain of seeing my love, not love me but to run, and be free.. that was all I wanted fir thee. 

Your along and a long way up there, flying now, free... 

I the twig, needed at one time, in my time, the time my memories will spend there, the time remembering, the when I was the twig, baring support and structure and love enough for you and me…  

Me, The twig is so happy to see you fly.

Fly butterfly fly and be free! 

I had a reason and not just a tool for you, I had to be been the change in you for you, that is why u choose me, and that makes me worth it. To me. Worthless to you now, but then I was worth to you. That made me worth something to me. 

It is like that every time I fall in love with you! But to you I am not worth it, only If you new I was your twig