Caterpillar

Once a chubby caterpillar
Sat upon a leaf,
Singing, "Eat, eat and be merry -
Life is very brief."

Soon he lost his appetite
And changed his merry tune.
He started spinning, hid himself
Inside a hard cocoon.

And he was still and quiet there -
Day after day went by.
At last it cracked and he emerged,
A gorgeous butterfly.

He spread his brown and crimson winds
And warmed them in the sun
And sang, "Now I must see the world -
My life has just begun."

by Wendy Cope