"Butterfly, butterfly, why come you here" - who wrote this poem?

[tm20]

I believe that "Butterfly, butterfly, why come you here" is the 1st line but that is all I know.

Friend's elderly father would like to know what it is as it is one of his favourites but that is all he can remember.

[Buenchico]

Unfortunately, I can't find this poem anywhere on the web but a visit to your local library, to see if they've got the collected works of Robert Browning might help.

This answer is based upon an assumption that this quiz-setter supplied the right answer to his own question:
http://www.sfquiz.org.uk/Quizzes/05jan25.htm
(Round 5, Question 4B).

Chris

[tm20]

thank you - I'll pass the information on to my friend!

[hoves25]

This is a poem that my grandfather use to say to the family and I still remember it vividly hanging on the wall in his house.

Butterfly, butterfly
Why come you here.

This is no place to play,
This is a place to pray.

Go find a leaf or stork or whatnot,
Which ever may be your chosen spot.

Not toad spy you,
Hovering birds of prey pass by you.

Spin and die to live again,
A butterfly.

Anom.

[Bbm1956]

Butterfly in Church
Butterfly, butterfly why come ye here ?
This is no place for you
Go suck the honey buds sweet and clear
Bathe in the morning dew
This is a place to think of Heaven
This is a place to pray
You have no sins to be forgiven
Butterfly, go away !

My late Uncle Sandy used to recite this poem. He was born around 1910. I don't know who wrote it or where it came from. I just remember the words.

[SHogben]

My grandfather also loved to recite this poem. He was born in 1906.
His version went like this:

The butterfly in Church

Butterfly, butterfly, why comest though here?
This is no place for you.
Go, sip the honeydrops sweet and clear and bathe in the morning dew.
This is a place to be forgiven, this is a place to pray.
Butterfly, you have no sins to be forgiven,
Butterfly, fly away.