Waiting for our departure[离开]， something in the sunlight caught my eyes. A moving something. A small moving something. Could it really be？ A butterfly had landed on the floor mat[草席] inside the house. Beating its wings ever so slowly， trying to catch its breath. I crept[悄悄地移动] closer， just wanting to capture[捕捉] its beauty in my hands and to admire its simplicity and intricate[错综复杂的] design. She sensed my presence， and we locked energies. Slowly， slowly， I inhaled[吸气] and she beat up. I exhaled[呼气] and she beat down. Me： Inhaling， exhaling. Her： beating up， beating down.
　　I pulled in[（车辆）驶近] closer and she stopped beating her wings. I held my breath. For fear of her fear， I crouched[蹲] still and silent. Pulled my body in close， head in knees， and bum[臀部] against ankles. She had a story， I could tell. I imagine she was once a white monarch[斑蝶] that flew higher and higher. Not like a bird that soars， but like blue waves on a white sand beach， bouncing and bobbing[迅速浮沉] to anywhere. Like this she traveled laterally[横向]， all the way to the sun in a bliss[快乐] unbound. A ray from the sun hung limp[柔软的] and loose， swaying[摇摆] like a Persian cat’s tail. She must have been frightened， caught in this ray. The warmth of sunset orange covered her body like glue and the heat singed[烧焦] the ends of her wings black.
　　Finally， a release. She opened up again， trusting me. Every scale[鳞] on her body shone brightly against the fading straw mat every time she stretched open her wings. Where have you been old lady注？ I asked. Why are you so unafraid of me， the giant moving beast？
　　I just couldn’t believe this moment. How lucky was I to have a direct interaction with nature？ With one of its inhabitants[居民]， who knew I only wanted to learn and listen to the many stories it carried about faraway lands and sweet pollen[花粉]？ My eyes magnified[放大] like a telescope[望远镜] and I studied her abdomen[腹部] nestled[隐藏] in between her wings every time she stretched. We weren’t so different， she and I. I too want to rest sometimes， take a breather[休憩一下]， soak in my surroundings.
　　There are moments in time that we will remember forever， and they always always catch us by surprise， which means we can never go looking for them， but only recognize[注意到] them when they appear and just submit[顺从].
　　Submitting to the moment is by far the most rewarding life lesson we can embody[使……体现]. So thank you， butterfly， thank you for believing in me and my presence， because in your slow and unassuming[谦逊的] process you made me stop and watch. You grabbed my attention and held it still， and like a baby， I got lost in your beauty. 　　Lately， I have been seeing butterflies everywhere. Sometimes they lay on the ground， lifeless， and sometimes they are flitting[掠过] away joyously[愉快地] with no reservations[保留]. It just seemed so paradoxical[矛盾的] that butterflies would exist in this crazy town of car noise and pollution. But they do！ They Do！ I always pictured[想象] them in gardens or fields， but never amongst the trash that sometimes lies across the side streets. What amazing notes[音符] of nature’s instruments[乐器]！
　　Now with heavy steps I stare at the ground and occasionally look up， hoping to catch a glimpse[一瞥] of a flying rainbow.
　　在等待启程之时，阳光中的某个东西吸引了我的视线。某个活动着的东西。某个活动着的小东西。这有可能是真的吗？一只蝴蝶落在了屋内的地毯上。它如此缓慢地拍着翅膀，想要稍事歇息。我蹑手蹑脚地靠近了一些，只想将它的美丽捧在我的手心里，欣赏它的质朴，以及复杂的花纹。她感觉到了我的存在，于是我们较起劲来。慢慢地，慢慢地，我吸气，她飞起；我呼气，她飞落。我：吸气，呼气。她：飞起，飞落。
　　我靠得更近了些，而她停止了拍动翅膀。我屏住了呼吸。由于担心会让她受惊，我一动不动地静静蹲着，把身体缩紧，头搁在膝盖上，臀部靠着脚踝。她是有故事的，我知道。我想象着她曾经是一只白色的斑蝶，越飞越高。不像是翱翔的鸟儿，却像是白色沙滩上的蓝色波浪，向着四面八方跳跃起伏。她就这样任意旅行，在无拘无束的喜悦中一路向着太阳飞去。一道阳光松软地垂下来，像波斯猫的尾巴一样来回摆动。被这道阳光照到，她肯定是受到了惊吓。橙色晚霞的暖意像胶水一样覆盖着她的全身，热力将她翅膀的末梢烧焦，变成了黑色。
　　终于，她释然了，再次打开了翅膀，相信我了。每一次伸展开双翅，她身上的每一块鳞片都在褪色的草毡上闪耀出光华。你去过哪里，老伴儿？我问道。为什么你一点都不怕我，这个活动着的巨兽？
　　我完全无法相信这一刻的存在。能够与大自然直接交流，我是有多么幸运啊？有谁知道，其实我只想跟随着它的一个居民，得知并倾听它所带来的众多关于遥远国度和甜蜜花粉的故事？在她每一次伸展双翅时，我的双眼就像望远镜一般放大，研究着她翅间的腹部。我们并没有很大差别，她和我。我也希望能在某处安歇，缓口气，沉浸在我周围的世界里。
　　一生中总有些时刻会被我们永远铭记，而它们也总会令我们感到惊奇，也就是说，我们永远不能去找寻它们，而只能在它们出现之时认之受之。接受此刻，这是到目前为止我们能够吸取的最有价值的人生教训。所以，谢谢你，蝴蝶，谢谢你相信我，还有我的存在，因为你那缓慢而谦卑的进程令我停下来仔细观察。你吸引了我的注意力，又令其静止。就像婴儿一样，我在你的美丽中迷失。
　　之后，我在各处都能见到蝴蝶。有时候它们停在地上，毫无生气；有时候它们又快乐地轻盈掠过，毫无保留。蝶儿们能生存于这个充满着汽车噪声和污染的疯狂城镇里，看上去是如此地矛盾。但是它们做到了！它们做到了！我总是想象着它们飞舞于花园和田野的情景，却从未想过也会在偶尔堆积于路边的垃圾间见到它们。大自然乐器的音符是多么奇妙啊！
　　如今，我迈着沉重的步伐，凝视着地面，偶尔也会仰望天空，期望能够瞥见一道彩虹掠过的身影。