Hero in a Black-Spotted Cape
Charmingly clad
in black-dotted red, yellow, or orange,
brave Ladybird Beetle
flies among flowers
in gardens, meadows, and fields.
Its six legs tiptoe across
yarrow and parsley,
sunflowers and dill,
picking up pollen.
Delicate wings unfold from
beneath a protective cape.
Ladybird flutters to the next bloom.
Our hero interrupts its flight
to alight on the arm of a child.
Tiny claws tickle
like the tip of a feather.
The child giggles with glee.
After a brief visit,
and a gift of good luck,
Ladybird resumes its work,
flying to the next flower,
feeding on aphids and other harmful bugs.
Ladybird Beetle –
accidental-pollinator,
plant-protector
child-delighter –
a miniature hero in a black-spotted cape.
in black-dotted red, yellow, or orange,
brave Ladybird Beetle
flies among flowers
in gardens, meadows, and fields.
Its six legs tiptoe across
yarrow and parsley,
sunflowers and dill,
picking up pollen.
Delicate wings unfold from
beneath a protective cape.
Ladybird flutters to the next bloom.
Our hero interrupts its flight
to alight on the arm of a child.
Tiny claws tickle
like the tip of a feather.
The child giggles with glee.
After a brief visit,
and a gift of good luck,
Ladybird resumes its work,
flying to the next flower,
feeding on aphids and other harmful bugs.
Ladybird Beetle –
accidental-pollinator,
plant-protector
child-delighter –
a miniature hero in a black-spotted cape.
This poem is copyright (©) Theresa Gaughan 2026
About the Writer
Theresa Gaughan
Theresa is a third-grade teacher living in Knoxville, Tennessee. She is an avid reader and has a very extensive collection of children's books. The first poem she ever shared with others was written in fourth-grade. It was titled, I Have to Pay Attention. Her teacher asked her to make it into a poster that she later displayed in the hallway. Ms. Gaughan has no memory of the lesson that she missed while writing the poem.
