Butterfly (March)

Impossible to know why people chase butterflies. They are a colourful moth because they live in daylight, flutter like banknotes left to the wind. The Rothschilds collected money but one descendant collected butterflies. Miriam lived in the English countryside, a professional entomologist. Entomb-ologist it could be said. Her collection grew until she was made a Dame of the British Empire. Her sister was a social butterfly. Pannonica collected jazz musicians in nightclubs, so was technically a social moth. Her friend Thelonious played piano more unpredictable than the march flight of any insect. Notes accumulate, drift, dart, leaving us wanting encores.