The Worm poem

Now behold the worm as he weaves his term,

And looks with hope from unfinished cocoon,

To the rising sun and distant moon,

"One day, and yet I know not how,

Someday, it may be soon, so soon from now",

Beholding now the limitless blue sky,

"I shall arise and in thee I shall fly".

With the finest thread he weaves o'er his head,

A place of safety from the sun and rain,

A place of refuge from the past and pain,

"No longer I a crawling worm shall be,

No longer frail and week soon all shall see,

For when again I dare open an eye,

I shall arise and in thee surely fly".

The winds they did blow but how would he know,

The howling winds by day and storms by night,

Sought out his feeble form for their delight,

But such fine prey could now no more be found,

As safe secure he lay hidden from ground,

And all the while his heart echoed this cry,

"I can, I will, I must arise and fly".

What beauty lay within no one could tell,

What he became inside was hidden well,

Until one day he stirred and woke and thought,

"The time has come for me to leave the earth",

And though the shrinking worm did surely die,

He rose again a newborn butterfly.

© Tia Maria 2011

This poem was written many years ago. It seeks to compare the life cycle of a caterpillar (the worm) to the struggles of a person evolving from one stage to another in life. It can also be interpreted religiously - transitioning from the old life in Christianity, and reborn into a new resurrected form.

"The worm" is a bit of an "ugly duckling" in that he is uncertain of his true identity and is unattractive. He is also treated by others based on his appearance rather than by what he is, has the potential to become, and will be. However one big difference is that he has a hope inside of his telling him that he is more than what he appears to be, therefore prepare, and wait, and see.

"The worm" in this poem is a feeble lowly creature that looks forward to a time in which he can leave his present situation / condition and be free to live a better / different life where only the sky is the limit. He looks forward to the future with great hope and plans accordingly. He is uncertain of when this change will come, but he has faith that it will.

He builds a cocoon to protect himself from the outside forces, prying eyes, and all things negative until he has fully evolved. Meanwhile his inner anticipation builds as he awaits the day that he is a freer, stronger and more improved version of himself.

Protected in his cocoon he is unaware of the constant negative forces around him that would seek his demise, and he has a safe place to transition into what he aspires to become.

No one could see or guess what was happening on the inside, the beautiful transition and changes were hidden from all. "The worm" then has a revelation on the inside and he knows that the day he has long awaited is finally here - his former self has died and he is about to be reborn. "The worm" (truly a caterpillar) emerges from his cocoon, reveals himself to the world as a glorious creature - full of beauty, freedom and the power to change. Now he can fly, leaving his past and limitations behind of him - now "the sky's the limit".