what would you be?
A butterfly,
or a bumblebee?
Remember Gregor,
so hated his job,
he went to bed,
and woke up a beetle?
I never did get, Gregor,
why not a spider?
You could weave your web,
and as Charlotte said,
“people are not as smart as bugs.”
Along came a spider,
who sat down beside her,
and interested Miss Muffet for hours 😉
Cheers to you from all the clever crawlies~
“If I can fool a bug… I can surely fool a man. People are not as smart as bugs.”
― E.B. White, Charlotte’s Web
“What a fate: to be condemned to work for a firm where the slightest negligence at once gave rise to the gravest suspicion! Were all the employees nothing but a bunch of scoundrels, was there not among them one single loyal devoted man who, had he wasted only an hour or so of the firm’s time in the morning, was so tormented by conscience as to be driven out of his mind and actually incapable of leaving his bed?”– Franz Kafka, Metamorphosis
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I think I’d be a butterfly. That way, I’m more likely to make people happy than scare them or annoy them so much they flatten me. 😉
Laughing, yes exactly, but you wouldn’t be able to bite, which is the trade off. There’s always a trade off… 😉
Yep, just like with everything in life. Sigh.
Unfortunately……
What you mean by “if”. 🙂 🙂
Cracking up……
I was laughing too when I typed it 🙂
😉 😉
I’d be a dragonfly! Love their colors and speed in the air. Wonderful photos – but as a former entomologist, I have to mention that spiders (eight legs) are not insects (six legs). They are phylum Arthropida like insect, but are in their own class, Arachnida. Butterflies are Lepidoptera and dragon flies are Diptera!
I know. I know. First, I said insect in the the title, but that was more inaccurate. I figured bug was almost slang. I really couldn’t make it rhyme whith arachnoid and lepidoptera! Laughing…..
You’ve got me there! I can’t think of anything that rhymes, either. 🙂
I mean I could probably figure it out with one, but both? No way….. 😉
At first they laugh and jeer at you,
they call you names like Arachnoid,
but they mistake you from your hue
for that creepy from a tabloid.
Then they say lepidoptera
which is not saying very much
for a diptera etcetera
which does rhyme in a way, as such
(And note…. the quadrameter too.. not bad for an impromptu rendition hehe)
Cindy, I hope you forgive me this impertinence, but if I were “an” bug, I would be a “um’bug” 😀
I know, I know.. just a silly thing.. but don’t you go calling me a grammer-nazi (note the spelling, most morons who detest me spell it that way, so you are exempt from it in any case). I have been away from this blog thing for a while now and this is the first time I am commenting in weeks, no computer since my expensive power supply blew out 🙁
Anyway, do forgive me, if you can.. I am not active in the blog-o-sphere in any case… delete this comment if needed.. after all, I was, am, and shall always be an outsider here.. 🙂
Laughing, you might be a hum-bug! Love this comment and you, and will not delete it. And I am the self professed Queen of the Typo. I have never met a typo I do not love. Especially when I inadvertantly in an 😉 comment thanked a good friend by saying, “thank you fiend…..”
But, I am also a coward so I’ll go change the typo. Just did and, EEEEW it was actually in the title! That is really bad, even by my standards! Thank you for telling me and saving me blogging humiliation~ 😉 😉
PSS- You definitely belong here! <3 <3
Thanks Cindy 😀 You are the best. And also, true to my pedantic self, tell your friend above about her typo, it is Arthropoda, not Arthropida (Which in a strange way makes sense if you are an Indian, Pida means “pest” “trouble” or “anguish” in Indian languages.. wow, why didn’t they think of it, makes sense that way – “legged trouble” or “legged pests” hehehe)… forgive me, can never resist delving into my pedantic selves.. .(Oh, to explain that.. I am schizophrenic…. and so am I)…
Lots of love.. (er.. don’t let my wife catch me saying that to some beautiful woman like you on the web).
And finally, after all that rigmarole, to answer your question seriously, (provided it is not another verbal Rorschach test) I would like to be a Ladybird or Ladybug.. oh, come on, let us not get into that.. ok, ok, call me Mrs. Lyndon Johnson from now on, go on have a laugh.. but the mildest of insects and I happen to think they are rather helpful to me in my garden. Or what is left of it, from ages ago. There! now analyze all you want.. you will get nothing from me.. arrrgh… mum’s not the word.. this ladybug is a ‘he’..
Oh I love it to no end. You do so belong here! You are another man lady bug. You and John RH (see below) are such. If I hadn’t posted this post, made the truly embarrassing title typo, which you so kindly ‘caught’ so I could correct, you would never have made this comment, and I would never have had this laugh. I think it is a very wise man that chooses to be a man lady bug. I wish I had thought of it, even though I am a woman, I might want to be one too!
Haha, love Kafka. And lived very near EB White in Maine. I can’t decide on what bug, because I find them all uniquely fascinating. Spiders are greatly underrated. They are true artists!
They are and some of their webs are stronger then kevlar!
What absolutely STUNNING captures Cindy – particularly that purplish-pink dragonfly – just BEAUTIFUL! 🙂
He was an African dragonfly! I loved him too~
I think I’d be a butterfly too. There would be a lot friends out there.
Leslie
Yes, can you imagine every reasonably normal person on the planet loving you? I could go for that…..Although, I did read Nichole Kidman dislikes butterflies. You would have to tolerate her disapproval. It would be tough, but I could do it. 😉
I could live with that.
Leslie
<3
These are colorful and interesting photographs, Cindy.
Mil grazi Ranu <3
Hmm, a bee might be for me. Bees have good self-defense and people keep them for good product without killing them.
Yes, and you would be keeping the planet alive which is good for your afterlife……
Great pics though not fond of large spiders LOL!
I can fully understand this! They are fun to photograph though~
Each is unique and beautiful in its own way…but, oh…such short life spans. Love the quotes. 🙂
Well, maybe they are beloved so they get to heaven faster…..
Hard to imagine to be one of them, they never stop working… 🙂 Beautiful photos of these special bugs, Cindy!
They sleep though don’t they? Moths during the day, bees at night? I have no idea. Now I have to go google this question……
They need good day or night sleep …
Don’t we all!
Superb photos and text! Bravo, dear Cindy! 🙂
Ahhh, so kind and much appreciated my friend. Wonder what fotos you are getting today around SD……..
Picture with the spider looks like a jewellery of its own! What bug would I be….?
Yes, I am waiting, what bug would you be? My enquiring mind wants to know….
These are stunning!
There is beauty everywhere in the natural world isn’t there! Even a black widow is beautiful in a way~
Wow brilliant photos Cindy! Thanks they are so real I almost got stung by the black widow!
We have several big black widows and a scorpion visit lately. Great photo ops, I’m grateful! 😉
Mmmh well I have to deal with some of those daily but I still prefer them than some of my neighbours, lol!
Cracking up, or former co-workers…….I love bloggers!!! 😉 😉
A dragonfly or ladybug. Never a spider because I’d want to fly.
Flight is a significant benefit I agree. How about being one of the fastest flying bugs? I could go for being a hawkmoth. Check it out:
https://top5ofanything.com/list/928c1786/Fastest-Flying-Insects-on-Earth
We have lots of those Black Widows around here, but if they stay in the dark corners and under the deck, then I promise to let them be.
The one in the photos spun a huge web in the guestroom shower and was there when we came home from our trip. My husband said, “He’s dead,” because he wasn’t moving. The next was eating a fly on our screen. My son thought he was dead.
I know spiders. I knew they weren’t dead. Once a tarantula played dead with me. I ran to get the camera and found him on the other side of the house. Smart spiders.
You know that could be a terrible story…”Well Doctor, I thought the spider was dead.”
Laughing……..I bet it’s happened. Laughing more…..
Your photos are absolutely glorious. And how did you tempt that butterfly to a hand? Someone has patience! As for what bug I would be — I think a damselfly. I’ve always wanted to be slimmer. 🙂
I knew an entomologist once who swore she was going to put this on her tombstone: “You Can’t Bug Me Any More.”
Cracking up, still cracking up…… I don’t know what is funnier being a damselfly to be skinnier or the bug doctor’s tombstone….
When I was a kid, my parents best friend was a professor of entomology. I followed him around and helped him with research when I was older. He gave me my madagascar hissing cockroach who I named Barnie Fife for a pet. I loved that cockroach. He taught me how to handle tarantulas so they wouldn’t shoot their hairs at me. I still am fascinated by insects and The Holler is like the Hellstrom Chronicles on steroids. I would have liked your friend! <3
Gorgeous photos, Cindy…..I think I’d be a dragonfly….or would that be a damselfly?
Plus read the above commenter, you would be so fashionably svelte as a damselfly…..Bloggers are the best! Still laughing…..
Gnarly spider, dude. You really should give up photography. You’re terrible. (I’d be a lady bug, eating good things. A male lady bug of course. There are male lady bugs aren’t there? I’m not an etymologist, as you can tell by my prose.)
Oh, entomologist. Who knew?
You are so fortunate that you are writing to the reigning queen of typos. I can really see you as a man lady bug, and there would have to be such a thing wouldn’t there, because if there weren’t, there would be no little baby lady bugs? You are so smart. I never even considered all the possibilities of a man lady bug until this very moment, and now I am considering all of the possibilites. This is why I love bloggers soooooo much! <3
Hmm I know I would never be a fly with such a short life span. I love dragon flies and fire flies. Hmm maybe a butterfly or a sweet, rumbling wolly bear.
I would”t want to be an unwelcome bug like a roach, or any or silver fish.
Maybe a beautiful butterfly.
I love bumbling through the air bumble bees too.
Oh I know-a lady bug-aren’t they a type of beattle?
Awww so many choices.
A fire fly is a very creative choice. They are so illuminating. I have only seen them once and was beguiled. Bumbling bees, and lady-bugs, beetle or not, are also appealing. You are right so many choices.
All fabulous photos, Cindy. But I especially love the Black Widow. Great capture of that abdominal red hourglass! Hmmm, I think I’d be a dragonfly. I love their wings!
I think they are really ancient insects, remember in dino days, they had huge dragonflies? I saw the fossils somewhere. Now that would be really cool wouldn’t it, to be prehistoric dragonfly, buzzing around the dinosaurs!
Yes it would!
Gorgeous photos, Cindy. So vibrant. Nature can’t be improved on 🙂
Nope, Mother Nature is most rocking artist ever!
A praying mantis… even though I’m not religious.
Oh yes! We have lots of them here in seasonal migrations. They try to eat the hummingbirds, but I don’t let them. When they come, which they will soon, I will try and get some shots for you. They line our window screens. They are animal like insects. Fascinating~
Thanks, I’d love to see them! 🙂
Revisiting your spectacular post, Cindy. Too precious for just one visit! Thanks so much! 🙂
Awwww, incredibly kind and so appreciated!
Cindy, very great images. I think I would like to be a butterfly and visit all the beautiful flowers on this planet. Hugs! Veraiconica
That seems to be such a pleasant life doesn’t it!
You continually amaze me by your ability to bring life to blogging. Truly a joy to stop by…
Always a joy to hear from you Rebecca and I am so happy you stopped by. Cheers to you my friend~ <3
So creative Cindy. I smiled all the way through. I think I would be that colorful dragonfly. 🙂
Dragonfly wings are amazing aren’t they, like miniature leaded glass and they always seem so serene. I can understand your choice!
Breathtaking post Cindy… the life, the colours and the ideas….
I notice no-one has opted to become a mosquito, though the Dalai Lama has pointed out that just one mosquito has more personal power than most human beings…one high-pitched whine in the night, and most of us are quivering with fear… but having given up being a control freak, I’ll pass on mosquitos and go for being a cicada which no-one has chosen either… but I like the idea of singing through the summer days…
Oh what a creative choice. You would be part of a nightly symphony! How delightful~
Oh, I love them all! \(≧‿≦)/
They live in a parallel universe on the same planet. They are fascinating!
Ok…now you are showing off…butterflies on the wrist…probably hummingbirds on the finger this Fall!
Laughing, I wish. If all the feeders are empty and I put up a new one hummingbirds will land on me, but it seems cruel to manipulate that, although I have seen photos of people doing this. Now if one were to land on me just because it wanted too, that would be incredible!
Wow… That cousin to a black widow looks so black…
Black widows have that telltale shiny black gobular abdomen. I have never seen them as large as they are at The Holler though.
Ladybug, I would be! 🙂
Yes, a lovely little garden helper! <3
Had to give this question some thought but I’m going to say, I’d be a firefly! I think it’d be a neat experience to produce my own light and enjoy a light show every night! This was a great blog question Cindy as there are so many beautiful bugs. I remember picking up the remains of a dragonfly which had passed away and thought, for a moment, that it was a barrette with artificial gemstones! ~Lynn
It is interesting how much art deco art used dragonfly imagery. Barrettes as you mention, pins, stained glass lamps and panels. Tiffany even used them on fireplace tiles. There is something so other worldly about them, and of course when they catch the light, they are flying stained glass. I can understand you choice perfectly.
Beautiful images Cindy! I think I will go for butterfly 🙂
They are hard to pass in both beauty and usefulness. Of course you would have to start out as a catepillar!
Such beauty. I guess butterflies pay for their beauty by having such short lives.
I didn’t realise that you have red backed spiders too!
It that what it is? I couldn’t identify it. Thank you! I will google it to learn more~
Wondrous!
Mil grazi!
What a difficult choice! Perhaps to be a bee would be good. By the way, what is the name of the plant in the final photo. I have been thinking of that plant for days but simply can’t remember the name. We had so many of them in the garden of my childhood.
I have no idea. I took that shot in Florida. I have seem them too, but sorry I can’t help, and New Zealand has plants that are such exotics to me. Maybe someone will read this and help us.
I do hope so.
I was always horrified by the movie ‘The Fly’ so this is a choice I cannot make! Nice photos😀
Understood. Insects can be scarey to us on some unconscious level, like reptiles. And flies? I fully understand!
Great captures Cindy! I think I would like to be a bee. They are so useful!! 😉
They are such an intregral part of any summer garden. What is a flower, without a bee!
Wow … I’ve never seen a dragonfly do a handstand before!
I was suprised by their yogic abilities. I hadn’t seen them fold all their wings forward either!
tolle Insektenbilder, mache es gut.
Vielen dank mein Freund!
danke gleichfalls
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Cindy Knoke asks… If you were a bug what you be.. The choice is perhaps between the survivalist of the kingdom the cockroach who is hated by everyone or the fleeting life of the butterfly.. call me shallow but I think I would settle for the aahhhhs at the sight of beautiful wings than the screams of horror…..
Interesting that so many people choose their bug by picking a type that would be less likely to be killed by humans. Says a lot of the human species doesn’t it! Thank you my friend for your kindness & cheers to you~
I’m not a spider fan, but even those photos are stunning! 🙂 I know which bug I DON’T want to be: a dung beetle. Not sure which I would actually want to be, though. 🙂
That is so funny. I took photos of a dung beetle hard at work in Africa, but the photos were, errrrr……unappealing (laughing) so I didn’t post them!
See? Unappealing…who wants to be that, right? ;D
Poor Gregor. He wasn’t given much of a choice. He would have been much creepier crawling around the walls of his room as a spider.
I felt for Gregor’s despair. It was as if contact with people turned him into something that all people despised. Kafka was brilliant.
Fabulous photos, Cindy and the text tells a fabulous story. I certainly wouldn’t want to be an ant carting round such heavy loads and having all work and no play. Butterfly sounds goood to me too! xx Rowena
Yes, ants have difficult lives. Everytime I see crowds of people from a distance, airplane, mountain top, bridge, etc., I always think of ant analogies. We have our workers, our soldiers, our queens. Sometimes I think we aren’t all that different, but I fully understand a preference for the life of a butterfly!
I love that insight, Cindy. After failing to get my daughter to school this morning, butterfly wings would be handy right now!
Oh I remember those stressful days. You have my full empathy!
Thanks, Cindy. I finish every day off with a cup of decaf tea. It doesn’t destress the mind completely but it helps. xx Ro
Either a Lady Bug or a Butterfly – Something about Lady Bugs I have always loved and a Butterfly so I can come out of my cocoon (comfort zone) and soar! Ants or spiders no, especially spiders because then everyone will be out to get me!! lol
Yes, no one is selecting to be an insect that human’s hate for very good reason. We know too well what humans do to insects they despise.
What a pondering thought.
If all creatures on this planet are somehow connected, then we all share a connection with the insect world…..
Weird…after a certain amount of time in the reader, I can only comment and not click ‘like’. I like these! lol
Yes. The reader is an enforcer. It restricts your freedom.
I love the way you put that. I’m cracking up because isn’t the whole point to be free to say what you want in WP? But we are enforced in other ways. Hmm…an oxymoron!