A miracle’s occuring in my yard. A butterfly has laid an egg.
New life in its most basic state. A knocked-down kit complete in every part.
This single cell has, nested at its core, extremely comprehensive plans
Finely reduced to micro-micro-dot. The cell divides, one, two, four, eight,
Then thousands, each one carrying the duplicated plans. Work’s underway.

Cells differentiate and, by some mutual agreement, are assigned
To take whatever form and fill whatever place the structure then requires.
Such skillful project planning, parts arrive at need, flawless, exact amounts.
On time, the membrane ruptures to unveil the product of this careful work.
A yellow, white, and black machine whose only purpose is to eat and eat.

Almost to the eye it grows. Plant stuff turns to caterpillar matter
With Deeming-like efficiency until a size is reach where halt is called.
The eating phase has played its part. New recipes are needed, different plans,
And formerly-sealed orders are unsealed. An overhanging spot is sought,
A stout suspension cable wrought, near-magic transformation now begins.

For hours it hangs apparently unchanged, except that its bold colours fade,
And yet, unseen beneath the skin, a flurry of activities begin..
The legs, eyes, mouth, and all external feature saving skin are reabsorbed.
This faded cloak is shed by strong convultions as the muscles’ final task.
A tougher skin encases now, bright green adorned with spots of brilliant gold.

Though wonderous so far, yet now more wonderous still. Enzymes come into play.
The whole internal structure renders down to soup. Basic material
For the new advanced design.And more enzymes appear, these ones to build
A noble creature with fine wings confined, more cunning packed than parachute.
In days emerged, wings spread and dried, it dances on the wind for our delight.

That’s no miracle, you say? It’s all there in D.N.A.? And so it is.
But how with such a simple code? That necklace only has four types of beads,
To code the twenty main amino acids, yet it mediates all change
To form such unlike entities. And some would have us think this came by chance.
Though simple awe’s derided, what great loss must obtain when awe has atrophied.