I said, "Father, can I
have a lovely butterfly?"
and instead he gave me
a catipillar for me to see.

Then again I asked, "Father,
can I have a frog to bother?"
yet again he smiled calmly
giving me a polliwog finally.

This wasn't what I had planned
when I asked for tree planted.
I was given a seed instead
and a book to be now read.

When I further asked to eat
He provided me a pole, neat!
Then he added a hook and worm
and said, it was my time to learn.

I needed protection from the rain
knowing now to think and gain.
Captured a wild beast to get skin
I had my protection from the wind.

He taught me to be patient at first
to watch and care for another's thirst.
Then to watch evolve a child to man
He taught me on my feet to stand.

All I really wanted was a butterfly
instead I learned to live and fly.
When I wanted the frog to taunt
he helped know power isn't to flaunt.

Now when it comes time for another
to ask of me for a sister or brother
I'm able to ask of them their plan
how to help this friend to stand?

For when we come to the end
what we take with us will depend
on how we learned to live above
where we started to learn to love.

So sleep well and dream well
remembering home is to dwell
and family is now everywhere
if we take the time to share.

And in everyone so treat them
like brothers and sisters again
as that is what we all are now
for this Father taught me how.

Can I have another lovely butterfly
to watch him crawl and then to fly?
Can I hunger to help need others
learning all are sisters and brothers?

Why did He teach me all this
what did He want me not to miss?
How did He know who I was to be
and then teach me to be able to see?

All I wanted was a small butterfly
or a little frog in the mud to lie
some food to tide me over a while
some clothes to wear in style.

Yet I learned to hunt and grow
to be able to provide a life full
teaching others to do the same
life was never intended as a game.