It happens that a man has it in him

One little son

wanted to make a collection

of butterflies and beetles

the father said to the son

you are certain this is not

a cruel thing

killing to make collections

the son was very disturbed

they talked

at last the boy was convinced

it was cruel

he would not do it

his father said the little boy was a noble boy

to give up

pleasure

when it was cruel.

The boy went to bed

the father got up in the early morning

saw a beautiful moth

he caught him
killed him he pinned him

and

he woke up his son

showed it to him

said

see

what a good father I am.

Source text for found poem/cento: The Making of Americans by Gertrude Stein