Hope for the Flowers

words and pictures by trina paulus

Started and finished: 23 January 2008

I have loved this book ever since high school when a very special friend shared it with me. It’s been a long time since I read it, but it never fails to charm.

Recently I went on a hunt for it in this jungle house of books, but without success. I know I have a ratty old paperback copy somewhere but I can’t find it. So I checked it out from the library and read it again with profound enjoyment and peace.

It’s that kind of book—a peaceful book. It’s a book which reminds us that we are all so much more than our lowest crawling, grasping, combative work-a-day world might have us believe we are. And so is life.

Now my children are teenagers and their attitudes are beginning to sour a bit due to the competitive behavior they see exhibited by their fellow human beings—outside their immediate circle of friends that is. As I listened to the first creeping tones of disillusionment in my eldest daughter’s conversation the other day I realized it was time for this book.

Hope for the Flowers is a fable. It reads like a young children’s book with tri-color (black, white and yellow) illustrations. It’s about a caterpillar, Stripe, who is trying to figure out what the world is all about. In the course of his journey he discovers a tower of caterpillars where everyone is climbing over everyone else to get to the top—a top lost in the clouds. What exactly exists at the top and why they are trying to get there remains a mystery to Stripe as well as to his fellow climbers. Nevertheless, Stripe jumps onto the caterpillar pile and starts climbing.

Along the way he avoids looking into the eyes of any of the others he steps on or climbs over, but he eventually meets and converses with another caterpillar named Yellow and as a result of this, both of their journeys are forever changed.

Don’t want to spoil the story for any who haven’t read it. If you haven’t, you are in for a treat! By all means rush out right now, get yourself a copy and read it! It’s a great winter read. It’s an all-time classic. It’s up-lifting. It’s a book to read over and over and over! This reminds me why I checked it out from the library—to give it to my daughter to read; I’m off to give it to her before it’s due back. Enjoy!

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