Whenever I walk along the lane, this lovely cow comes to meet me or follow me. I always stop and we have a chat about this and that – she always seems interested somehow. Here’s a little poem I wrote about her.

My friend, Miss Butterfly

Miss Butterfly I call her,
she knows her name.
She meets me at the farmer’s gate
when I walk down the lane. 
We muse, enjoy the view
and chat about the weather,
we laugh and put the world to rights
whenever we’re together. 
Miss Butterfly likes to nudge my hand
her tongue rough and wet on my skin. 
She enjoys a rub behind her ears
and a tickle under her chin.

One day I was eating an apple.
She nudged my hand to see
and before i knew it, snaffled!
She stole and ate it from me.
Now I know she likes bananas
and carrots, grass of course,
I sometimes wonder whether
she really is a horse!
I hope the farmer doesn’t see us
picnicking at the gate.
How on earth would I tell him
what it is she ate!

Her tongue is warm against my face,
she leans into my frame.
A cows lick, a kiss and a hug
from my awesome bovine friend.
I called her miss Butterfly because 
of the markings on her face.
I’m sure she knows that in my heart
she holds a special place.
I don’t know what I would do
if i didn’t see her every day
along the lane she waits
to bring happiness to my day.

Then, one day a baby boy
stood proudly by her side.
Same markings on his face,
a second butterfly.
She brought him up so sweetly
gentle, kind and strong.
She taught him how to greet me.
We played all summer long.
Then one day he wasn’t there
he’d become a “disappeared”.
I comforted her all autumn
I watched her grieve, her tears.

I know one day, the time will come
she won’t be at the gate.
But until then I’ll cherish 
our daily field-side date.
And when the trees have lost their leaves 
and winter’s snow does fall 
She’ll leave the gate for the bovine barn
where I know she’s safe and warm.
But I’ll still walk along the lane
and think of her each day.
And when it’s spring, I’ll see once more
my friend, Miss Butterfly.