The Butterfly's Funeral A Sequel to the Butterfly's Ball and Grasshopper's Feast

The merriment of the insect world has abruptly given way to mourning: the butterfly who presided over a recent feast has died. In this gentle, fanciful funeral poem, the Grasshopper, Bee, Beetle, Dormouse, Gnat, Moth, and many other small creatures gather to honor their departed friend. Together they form a solemn procession, complete with a silk-woven coffin, a floral bier, mourning clothes, and music suited to the occasion.

Though touched with sadness, the verse remains playful and richly imaginative, giving every creature a distinctive role in the ceremony. The Mole prepares the grave, the Book-worm composes an epitaph, and the surrounding rushes, daisies, violets, and lilies lend the scene a quiet beauty. With its lively rhymes, memorable animal characters, and tender reflections on friendship and remembrance, this brief companion piece offers a charming listening experience for children and adults who enjoy whimsical nineteenth-century verse.