Around the blade of grass,
the small red-haired girl twirls her finger, cocooning it within.
As the caterpillars innocently hang on the willows,
nimble fingers make a home for her companions.

Castles of broken sticks –
Lanes of odd sized pebbles –
Mountains mixed with brown chalky mud–
The apprentice architect works in silent meditation.

Small wonders of creation
anticipate the completion of paradise.
In curious whispers they stand around,
waiting for their invitation to the banquet.

The titmouse lands on a distant branch
and joins the whippoorwill
in an unrehearsed duet.
The old grey spider accompanies it with a dance.

The monarch butterfly floats high overhead,
disappearing in the clouds,
escaping the charade.