When the 17 caterpillars we had caught
Escaped from the jar
and went crawling round the kitchen,
Mum went mad.

I couldn’t understand it
We lived in chaos so why would she care?
But she did
‘Find them all!’ she screamed, ‘and put them back!’

We found 16
And I’ve been searching
Ever since for that last one
Wondering why she was so cross.

I put it down
to one of following 17 possible reasons:

1. She was ashamed of the chaos
2. She was scared of caterpillars
3. The gerbils had escaped
4. There were too many bills
5. She had had a row with Dad
6. She was in love
7. She wasn’t in love
8. She hated her job
9. Her mother was coming to stay
10. She’d ruined the wash
11. Life wasn’t easy
12. She’d forgotten who she was
13. She was bored out of her skull
14. She’d given up smoking
15. She couldn’t cope with all the responsibility
16. She wanted to be an artist
17. She was scared of doing what she really wanted

I still hope that last caterpillar
became a butterfly
And flew free out of the open window

The most beautiful butterfly in the world.
I hope it was my mother
The most beautiful thing in all the world.

Free.