Is it really possible to find inspiration and motivation in an insect?
Take a really close look at this photo of an male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio glaucus).
Do you see the delicate beauty of his colors and shapes or are your eyes drawn immediately to his infirmity? His wings are virtually shredded and there is a large portion of one of them missing.
Somehow, despite all of those limitations, he can still fly. He can defy gravity and the laws of aerodynamics.
I don’t know how he does it, but he is able to overcome adversity. Some of the lyrics of the song “Defying Gravity” from the musical “Wicked” come into my head as I think about it.
“I’m through accepting limits ’cause someone says they’re so. Some things I cannot change but til I try I’ll never know….I’d sooner buy defying gravity. Kiss me goodbye I’m defying gravity and you can’t pull me down.”
Inspiration and motivation can come from many places, I would posit, even from insects.
Take these broken wings and learn to fly…
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I’ve seen swallowtails and other butterflies with front wings split almost completely in half, and yet able to fly with no apparent trouble. They seem able to persevere under an onslaught of weather, environment, and attacks from predators. Eastern tiger swallowtails in particular seem very common here in southeast Michigan and are perhaps especially well-suited to survive the challenges of life.
I only wish I had that sense of perseverance. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and insights.
…and you quote from Wicked…. 🙂
I’ve often marvelled at how a butterfly can fly despite injuries… this is a lovely photo. What plant is it sitting on?
Also, today I started photographing flowers at my mom’s house… and ended up on a bug mission… I think it’s your fault. Watch this week’s blogs!
I’ll have to check with friends who know more about the plants. As for the bugs, I started out shooting flowers and the bugs got to me. Watch out!
I saw this butterfly with the same wing problem last spring. I wondered then what caused it and still wonder. It contrasts nicely with what I think is tall Ironweed (Vernonia altissima.)
Definitely inspiring, Mike. It’s amazing how well they can fare in spite of such a loss of structure. I’ve recently seen spiders and even the really large harevestmen (daddy long legs) with as few as three remaining legs, and they are still surprisingly agile.
Thanks. I definitely agree. It’s amazing how we can complain about minor obstacles.