Today I returned to work from my vacation, but my recent creative spurt has still not run its course.
In an earlier post I shared photos that led me to write what can be termed an "ekphrastic poem".
This is just a fancy way to describe using a piece of art, or even a photo, to inspire a poem.
This morning, a half block from work, as I was walking under a freeway underpass, something hauling ass up a nearby wall caught my attention.
It was a Caterpillar!
This little creature was absolutely determined to make it to someplace and its journey had led it from who knows where to where it found itself when I encountered it....
climbing a very high wall with no idea what it would find once it reached the top.
I grabbed my cell phone and, as I spent 5 minutes observing its efforts, took several photos.
During my breaks and lunch, at work, I thought about how I could turn the journey of this beautiful creature into a poem or song for this blog.
One song title kept coming to mind, though I could not recall where I'd heard it, or how long ago.
When I got home a Google search turned up several songs of that title, by different artists.
I checked out the lyrics for one whose performer was someone I was familiar with and knew this was the one to serve as my inspiration...
I hope you enjoy the 4 photos and the song they inspired.
Travelin' Caterpillar By Kiril Kundurazieff (With humble apologies to the great Southern Rock Band Lynyrd Skynyrd and their song... Travelin' Man (Music Video version w/Lyrics) )
I was born a travelin' Caterpillar, but that's not all I'll ever be
Movin' around from lot to lot to find a spot to grow and fly free
My parents were Butterflies when love stung them and they made whoopee
And from the day that I was born a similar fate was ahead of me
I'm a travelin' Caterpillar
A travelin' Caterpillar
A travelin' Caterpillar, that's what I am
A travelin' Caterpillar, oh that's what I am
A travelin' Caterpillar that's what I am, no field puts a hold on me
You'll see me once or maybe twice, that's all you'll see of me
No, stayin' in one place I'll be bored I hope you understand
I'm no fool, Lord no, accept that I am a travelin' Caterpillar
I'm a travelin' Caterpillar
A travelin' Caterpillar
A travelin' Caterpillar, that's what I am
A travelin' Caterpillar, oh that's what I am
A travelin' Caterpillar that's what I am
But I won't always be
A travelin' Caterpillar that's what I am
One day soon, though, I'm gonna fly high and free, yeah
I'm a traveler
A travelin' Caterpillar, oh that's what I am
A travelin' Caterpillar that's what I am, Lord I have to move fast
I've climbed a few walls, looking for a safe place to rest
I'm just a mover, movin' fast along the ground
Soon I'll fly high and free, just floatin' around
A travelin' Butterfly
A travelin' Butterfly, that's what I'll be
A travelin' Butterfly
A travelin' Butterfly, oh that's what I'll be
A beautiful, high flyin', travelin' Butterfly
****UPDATE - 10/17/16****
OK, this was interesting...
This morning, as I passed the same spot, I saw a caterpillar marching DOWN the wall in the opposite direction from the one above...
Was it the same creature?
Did it discover something it didn't like about where it went the other day and decide it was better off at it's previous location?
It certainly LOOKS like the same creature...except it has gotten a lot more hairy in 2 days if it is.
If not, then I seem to have discovered a Caterpillar highway, right below and next to the human freeways. :-D
****END UPDATE****
****UPDATE - 10/18/16****
One more!
This morning, as I passed the same spot, I saw a caterpillar straddling the wall edge, apparently undecided which direction it wanted to go...
This one was even more hairy than the previous one.
****END UPDATE**
Wow! Totally creative and ingenious! I do not know this Lynyrd Skynyrd song at all, but such a clever rhyme! You find inspiration from anything. Love that!
Posted by: SocciWriter | October 17, 2016 at 05:49 AM
I love the song! It sounds as if you have discovered the great Caterpillar Freeway! Thank you so much for Pet Parading with us. ☺
Posted by: M. K. Clinton | October 21, 2016 at 07:00 PM
Great photos and cute song.
Posted by: Ellen Pilch | October 23, 2016 at 10:31 PM