A Fuzzy Fellow, Without Feet
A fuzzy fellow, without feet,
Yet doth exceeding run! Of velvet, is his Countenance, And his Complexion, dun! Sometime, he dwelleth in the grass! Sometime, upon a bough, From which he doth descend in plush Upon the Passer-by! All this in summer. But when winds alarm the Forest Folk, He taketh Damask Residence -- And struts in sewing silk! Then, finer than a Lady, Emerges in the spring! A Feather on each shoulder! You'd scarce recognize him! By Men, yclept Caterpillar! By me! But who am I, To tell the pretty secret Of the Butterfly! |
The species of caterpillar remains a mystery but one may theorize which it may be. A native to the New England region, or from the eastern half of the continent that Emily called home. The external appearance of a caterpillar can vary from smooth to slightly fuzzy, to hairy and prickly. Emily refers to a velvet caterpillar which sounds like a fuzzy caterpillar as opposed to the longer and more prickly haired species. It's complexion was the color of dun, or a lighter shade of brown.
She observed the caterpillar in her garden as it moved around from grass to shrubs. She may have seen one fall from a limb and onto a person or have walked by one who was hanging from a bough by the "plush" silk it dispenses. Emily was aware of the life cycle of insects and their behaviors when the summer months turned into fall and winter when the chilly winds descend upon the inhabitants of her state and caterpillars began to pupate. Damask is a reference to a kind of printed cloth made from silk and other fabrics. She is referring, in a boastful way, to the caterpillars ability to spin a cocoon "residence" with beautiful silk pattern of damask. In the spring, her little friend blossoms and emerges from his secluded home as another being that one would not be able to recognize as previously being a caterpillar. This animal is gifted with flight with wings as beautiful and delicate as a feather. People call him a butterfly but she knows the secret of the beautiful and mysterious creature and will keep the secrets of it's origin as any true friend would keep the secrets of their confidant. |