Emergence

The monarch has split the chrysalis. Every day we've looked, for a month and a little more now. The chrysalis has seemed unchanged, exactly the jewel case it has been since it was first created, about a month ago. Somewhere I'd read that it would become transparent before the butterfly left. Yesterday afternoon all seemed as it has been. Today, just after two o'clock, upon stepping outside I was almost struck in the face by a giant clouded sulphur butterfly, the first seen in days. As I turned back to the door for a look at the chrysalis, I did not see the familiar shiny case of green. Upon closer inspection of the milkweed stalk, I saw that the chrysalis was colorless, was split, and was shaking. A black leg was sticking out. Then two were. Violently, the butterfly emerged. Its body elongated. Its folded wings stretched out over several hours. This butterfly appears to be a female. We could see its proboscis. We sat by it to keep the mockingbird and jays away. In a recent Rumbo, there was an article about the monarch. For asclepias, it gave three names: hoja de venenillo, lengua de vaca, and algodoncillo. Let this be a good sign for the year beginning. May it be one of metamorphosis.