"Dance on the edges of Time"

When I was at the greenhouse of the Kashihara City Insectarium, I was excited to see many butterflies of various species as I hadn't seen so many ones at one time.  They are really graceful “flying flowers” flitting fluidly among the static flowers of the greenhouse from one to another.

 They fluttered, danced, and sat on a flower to savor the joy of this world
or to pose to have their pictures taken.
I enjoyed each moment taking pictures of them.

 リュウキュウアサギマダラ/琉球浅葱斑, Ideopsis similis

 (click on the photo to enlarge.)

ツマベニチョウ/ 褄紅蝶, Hebomoia glaucippe



A butterfly has to struggle out of their cocoon to spread their beautiful wings. Likewise, don’t we have the time when we have to fight to leave the chrysalis situation in order to fly with wings of our mind?

カバマダラ/樺斑, Danaus chrysippus

 ジャコウアゲハ／Papilio polytes

Among all the ephemeral insects, a butterfly is often attributed as a symbol of fleeting life perhaps because of their delicate appearance with beautiful paper-thin wings. The average life span of a butterfly is about a month from egg to the end.  We live much longer than butterflies, but what is the difference compared to the infinity?  

 オオゴマダラ/大胡麻斑, Idea leuconoe

"The butterfly counts not months but moments,

and has time enough.

Time is a wealth of change,

but the clock in its parody makes it mere change and no wealth.

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time

like dew on the tip of a leaf."

-Rabindranath Tagore-