Sunday, September 28, 2008

Butterfly On My Leg

Butterfly On My Leg

It was when I sat in the darkness
of my own anger at my loss
that I suddenly noticed the soft and subtle flickers.
White wings came together like an angel's hands in a greeting.
The black eyes studied me.
She moved with steady steps on my calf.
Could I not feel anymore?

I did not move as I looked down. I could feel each footstep.
The wings were translucent, shimmering with
silken fibers. Yet they were opaque.
I wanted to see.
I wanted to feel.
I need to hear.
I strained and did hear the little one's words to me.
Fly with me.
I explained I couldn't.
I must remain to guard my losses.
Her voice beat consistently.
Fly with me.
I told her I could not.

She flew higher and floated to my ears.
She told me of succulent lavendar and heathers,
the inebriating scents of the green grass,
and being quenched by the dew warmed by the rising sun.

She said she understood. She knew.
It was only when she left her cocoon
was she able to savor the lushness of life.
The dark confines were cozy and safe.
But, hunger raged. The fatigue.
The desire to break out, stretch her wings and senses.

She began with a tiny punch.


*~*~*~*~*~*~
This was a writing prompt in my poetry journal - "Imagine a butterlfy lands on your leg."

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

very nice! I like it.

Anonymous said...

I wanted to let you know I enjoy following your blog. Like today, I remembered your blog the first time in months (been busy) and it was fun catching up to it. Your blog mainly resonates with me since we have some life similarities such as a job, a young daughter, interest in writing and the arts. Though with writing there is one difference. You seem to make time for doing/living it all: how do you make the time - are you for real? I dream of writing and have never got down to it. With my job and it's long commute, spending time w/daughter, home and then my downtime to relax in between, I think any serious creative pursuit is on hold till I retire (if that ever happens) or when my daughter goes off to college. In the meantime, good luck and best wishes to you and keep blogging!

-Y

Anonymous said...

Y -
Thanks so much for your comments -- Yes I am real!! Since college, I've been told I have an unnatural amount of energy :-) I want to do everything, but I do get tired.

As for creative pursuits, not writing is not an option for me. I love art and painting too, but that's my hobby that I put off for now.

I keep a "poetry journal" bedside so I jot poems down at night. I've written poems during long boring meetings at work.Whatever is in my head.

Anyway, I wanted to thank you for your words because they are encouraging to me. I was just reading an interview by author Thrity Umrigar and feeling that I haven't focused enough on my writing and it hasn't moved to where I'd like to be.

It's knowing that I have people coming to my blog keeps me motivated to write here!!