The Butterfly Tree

In my family for many years now,
Butterflies have had a special meaning.

I myself have always loved butterflies,
even as a smallie, but when my father in law died,
ten years ago, the significance was for all of us.

We were in the church, and it was almost the end of his funeral service,
the part when the priest blesses the coffin, there was a family wreath on
the top of his coffin, and when the priest blessed it a butterfly rose up
out of the wreath flew around the coffin and then out onto the altar.

It was for us a very special moment, there were many meanings we took from it,
but we knew that he was happy, he was at peace, and it was comforting.
My kids always took it that the butterfly came from Holy Gods' garden,
sent by their grandad, to look after us, you know what that description settled
well with us.

Ever since that day, butterflies have been with us, maybe people will snort and
say, coincidence, that doesnt matter to us, in our hearts it felt good.

I remember the first day I went back to work after Gerry and I split,
I walked through the carpark, and five butterflies came around me, it
brought me to tears, but I said out loud, thank you!
(really Im so soppy sometimes)
I did feel like they were there for me,
and all through that summer they were
about me, and often when I was at my saddest,
one would just appear and I didnt
feel so alone at that moment.

When one of the lads said, those butterflies
are weird why are they hanging around,
and the maintenance guy said, ah yeah there
is a nest of them in the gantry wall thats why,
I said nothing, it didnt change
my opinion they were there for me.

When I redid my room up, you've read that saga,
anyway, I moved the bed and it left me with an
overhead panel that was blank, and nothing I had
seemed to look right in it, so I often looked in
DIY or knick knack shops for something.

Last month I saw a shop I hadnt been in, so I
just love a browse and in I went, and there hanging
on the wall in front of me, there it was my panel filler,
my significance,
My Butterfly Tree.

It is made from copper, I think!
Its a tree and in that tree,
I saw three butterflies,
2 red and one green.
My two girls, and one boy.

I felt it was right, but when I looked at the price,
I was like no way, it was too dear, so I walked out.

I came home and was telling the kids, they were like,
Mam, buy it, go on.
I am too cautious about spending on stuff like
that, so I resisted, but that tree called me for a month,
then yesterday I was out and I passed the shop again.

So I went in, and looked at my tree, and it was marked down,
now, suitable, beautiful and a bargain,
that I cannot resist, to be honest
I dont think I was gonna come out of that shop
without my tree,
So I bought it, when I was paying the girl said,
oh yeah the four butterflies,
I said no three, she smiled said look again, there
is a special butterfly, same colour as the leaves, its there,

I looked where she pointed at,
there it was my fourth butterfly,
My full family,
two red, one green, one bronzy gold.
My daughters, my son and me.

Thanks for sending it to me.

M