Who can decorate

the walls of the world better

than a butterfly ?

Poem Avis Harley 

I have always loved this haiku for its simplicity and for the thoughts that linger. Who can decorate the walls of the world better, we might constantly ask. I find myself asking this question as I look around another rich school year of learning and growing with the library program. 

The library, now located at Taleigao, Goa was our flagship program. It was decorated by many butterflies. Monarchs and other winged creatures, many flitted through, many stayed a while and many lingered. As I reflect on my purpose in this garden of wings I am reminded of another poem by Avis Harley, from the same collection The Monarch’s Progress; Poems with Wings.

Before

BY AVIS HARLEY

The butterfly was there

before any human art was made.

Before cathedrals rose in prayer,

the butterfly was there.

Before pyramids pierced the air

or Great Wall stones were laid,

the butterfly was there.

Before any human, art was made.

and so I remind myself that butterflies will always come through, they were there long before me and will be there long after and some of them will leave a mark to remind us of their being. 

If you flit by the Library, look at our wall , one of our winged visitors left that for all of us, a decorated wall to make the world more beautiful !