The butterfly that changed my life
When Patrick Lane made the decision to devote his life to writing, to poetry, it was because of a butterfly he once knew. A butterfly he tried desperately to save.
Patrick Lane is one of Canada's best-known poets. In June, 2013 he was about to receive an honorary degree from UBC. For his convocation address held at the Kelowna Campus, he knew there was a story he needed to tell.
It came about many years earlier, on a cold and windy day in December 1958. He encountered a sapphire butterfly that seemingly came out of nowhere and landed on his sleeve. His encounter with that butterfly ended up inspiring a lifelong determination to nurture beauty and the creative spirit, deep within his psyche.
Would you like to hear Patrick's convocation address?
Click the listen button above to hear his story.