“Oh my,” he sighed, “what is this now?

More troubles I must bear?

A sticky coat is covering me.

I can't get anywhere!”

And so beyond his will or wish,

He spun himself a room;

And in the darkness, fastened tight,

He slept in his cocoon.

The river sighed and thought,

“Hairy worm, your hardship's a mere trifle

For I know what you'll become,

I've often seen the cycle.

But look at me, and there you'll see

What sadness really means,

For no children play or splash in me—

Too shallow are my streams.”

Just then from off the river's bend,

A beaver took a swim

With fresh-cut branches in his mouth

Depositing them in.

The river swelled. “What is this mess?

You're blocking up my flow.

I'll wash it all away,

I must stay pure, you know.”

But again, the beavers brought more limbs

And anchored them in place

Branches upon branches;

It was a mighty race.

The river flowed with all its force

To wash the sticks away,

But the beavers just would not give up,

And so the branches stayed;

At last upon the very top,

The beaver put in place

The branch that held within its limbs

The caterpillar's case.

The river grumbled all the while,

“My flow's been interrupted,

And I'm swelling up so big and fat,

I feel like I am glutted!”

From high above the sun smiled down

Upon the wooden dam,

And warmed the sleeping caterpillar

Inside his silken strands.

As days went by, at last he woke

And saw a speck of light

And struggled through the opening

With every bit of might.

Oh, such pain—the hole was small

He barely made it through—

But once outside he noticed something

Wonderful and new!

For there upon his sides,

Two splendorous forms unfolded,

Something that he'd never seen before,

That in the dark was molded.

“What are these?” he gasped,

As he waved them in the breeze,

And suddenly took to flight,

Reaching for the trees.

The creatures gazed upon his wings,

Which shone in brilliant color,

“I'm flying,” he cried out for joy,

And looked about in wonder.

And there below, the river,

Now a brimming, shining pool

In which the children laughed and played,

Said, “I have now learned too,

That difficulties and problems,

At which we do protest,

May be God's way of bringing us

A life that's truly blessed.”