3 minute read
THE BUTTERFLY, THE SNAKE, AND THE BEE
By Mary Wheelan
About The Author
When Spirit speaks, listen, no matter what you are in the middle of doing. That is what she took from the experience. One day at a campground in Shelburne, Massachusetts she was writing a song. Along came a bee that buzzed around her head. She waved her hand to shoo it away and resumed working on the song. She felt inspired and was keen on writing her song.
As she finished the first verse, a butterfly flew right into her face flapping its wings as if to say, “Wake up. Don’t you see me right before your eyes?” Despite this beautiful interruption, she went back to her song to work on another verse. She quickly became reabsorbed in her creative process. However, a little while later she looked up and saw a beautiful snake glistening in the sunlight as it headed towards her. All that stood between Lynn and the snake was her open guitar case lying on the ground in front of her. Although ordinarily frightened by snakes, she just calmly rattled the guitar case a little and the snake, a few feet in length, changed direction and slithered back into the woods.
Then she needed a chorus. What to write? What to write? And it came to her. Then the butterfly, the snake and the bee not only entered the chorus but literally took it over. Crone, whisper your secrets to me. Speak of the butterfly, the snake, and the bee.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A creative artist, Mary Wheelan expresses her artistry primarily through writing poems and songs. She draws upon both for performances and, at times, sings portions of poems. These hybrid performances allow for greater emphasis for sections she wants to highlight. In addition to in-person performances of poetry and/or songs, Mary also regularly did both on live radio as part of her weekly show Mary Rewired which aired on WXOJ 103.3 FM. Although she no longer produces the radio program, she continues to update her Mary Rewired Facebook page which updates followers about her creative endeavors.
Mary has participated in as well as, facilitated many writing groups. She self-published a book of poetry titled Walking on the Moon. Mary has been published in Out From Under: Sober Dykes and Our Friends, Survivors’
Voices: Works of Resilience, In This Together (an especially wonderful experience by The Hosmer Gallery at the Forbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts. She was also included in the recent art exhibit Show Your Pride at the Artworks Gallery in Ware, MA.
Learn more about Mary Wheelan at Visioning B.E.A.R. Circle.
