The Butterflies
Reading edition
A few slight changes, such as “I am a butterfly” for first line, will fit the song to be sung by one child instead of several. The suitable changes will suggest themselves to mother or teacher. A butterfly-look may be given to the little ones by wings of tissue paper fastened between the shoulders, or even by broad bows of wide, gay-colored ribbon.
Children enter singing and circle about a table of flowers.
We airy Butterflies We come in sunny hours, We fairy Butterflies We come when come the flowers. We dainty Butterflies We feed on honey new At every opening flower, And drink of morning dew.
Children flit about at pleasure.
Children meet, touch hands, then “float” airily away.
Circle around the room and away.
We hover o’er the fields Like flowers of the grass, As on our colored wings We pause, and poise, and pass— Winged flowers that rise and soar And weave a dance so fair, And float at last away Upon the sunny air. We airy Butterflies We go with summer hours, We fairy Butterflies We go when go the flowers. But we shall come again With all the merry May, And we again shall help To make the great world gay