Butterfly
BOY BLUE’S BEASTS
by WILLIAM JAY SMITH
William Jay Smith scored a remarkable success with his first volume of children’s poems. Laughing Time, with illustrations by Juliet Kepes. The poems which follow appear in his newly published book, Boy Blue’s Book of Beasts. Again the illustrations are by Juliet Kepes.
OF LIVING creatures most I prize
Black-spotted yellow Butterflies
Sailing softly through the skies,
Black-spotted yellow Butterflies
Sailing softly through the skies,
Whisking light from each sunbeam,
Gliding over field and stream —
Like fans unfolding in a dream.
Gliding over field and stream —
Like fans unfolding in a dream.
Like fans of gold lace flickering
Before a drowsy elfin king
For whom the thrush and linnet sing —
Before a drowsy elfin king
For whom the thrush and linnet sing —
Soft and beautiful and bright
As hands that move to touch the light
When Mother leans to say good night.
As hands that move to touch the light
When Mother leans to say good night.
