Monarch Butterflies: A Short Fable

Most weeks, I write a blog that connects in some way to my newest book, The Nature Within Us. But this week I thought I’d do something a little different.

Instead of writing an essay, I’d like to share a short story from one of my earlier books. It comes from a small collection of fables I wrote called Freedom at the Lake. These were simple stories meant to reflect on life in quiet ways.

This particular fable is called “Monarch Butterflies.”

This is a tale of two butterflies from when they were both caterpillars on their milkweed. One was named Princess Dana, and the other Princess Gina. They were monarch butterflies.

Princess Gina knew what it meant to be a butterfly, even at the young age of being a caterpillar, and Princess Dana knew the purpose of being a butterfly.

Princess Dana would eat the milkweed, knowing she had to prepare for the cocoon. Princess Gina would eat the milkweed because it made her smile.

Princess Dana made her cocoon strong to withstand the weather and to keep her safe from others. Princess Gina made her cocoon as comfy as possible for her long rest.

When they emerged as butterflies, Princess Dana exercised her wings and prepared them for the long trek to Mexico. Princess Gina moved her wings to refresh them in the sun, for she loved the sun.

Princess Dana looked for flowers filled with nectar. Princess Gina looked for the biggest and brightest flowers that matched her wings.

Sometimes, dogs chased butterflies. Princess Dana would fly high enough that the dogs couldn’t reach her to stay safe. Princess Gina would fly high enough to make the dogs bark and jump, for it made her laugh.

Princess Dana knew she had to fly to a warmer place, so she headed south. Princess Gina was getting cold, so she went south.

When Princess Dana went north to have her children, Princess Gina flew north because the other butterflies were doing that.

After Princess Dana laid her eggs, she said, “My purpose has been met.”

After Princess Gina laid her eggs, she said, “What a great life — to be a butterfly.”

Albert Alarcon Jr. Author of The Nature Within Us: A Journey Through Love, Reason, and What Makes Us Human