by Emma Walton Hamilton
You said to us, your arms outstretched
-- a golden boy of three,
"I'm waiting for a butterfly
to come and land on me."
Your dad and I were worried.
We exchanged a little smile.
"You know," Dad offered tenderlly,
"that might take awhile."
"Try again," I added,
"when the bushes are in flower. . ."
But still you stood there motionless,
for what seemed like an hour.
"How about a game of catch?"
Dad hoped he could distract.
"After the butterfly," you said,
with confidence and tact.
We knew, as grown-ups do, of course,
this dream could not come true --
that tears and disappointment
would undoubtedly ensue.
Yet suddenly, from nowhere,
just the way you had foretold,
Her Majesty appreared
and settled lightly on your shoulder.
Your smile extended ear to ear.
You looked at Dad and me.
She flexed her lovely orange wings,
and you said, simply, "See?"
Julie Andrews' Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies
Selected by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton
Little Brown and Company, 2009
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