Breaking Free, Flying Free
A butterfly poem
i have seen the way of the caterpillar
starving for growth
searching for nourishing nutrients
the slow crawl of aching survival
~
every moment is both anguish and hope
the innate desire to strive for better
for life
for the dream of flying and reaching out to trail the stars with imaginary fingertips
~
there are lessons left in trails of tears
the saltiness left behind a reminder of the struggles overcome
memory in muscle movement
the imprint of being in the soil beneath you
~
there is patience wrapped around you
suffocating you with the desire to heal and fly away
it bleeds into your echoing essence
colours your being blue with belief
~
one day, the belief and hope and anguish
wrapped in leaves and layers of patience
they will pay off, and you shall shed
every pain that has pushed you, to fly away
~
be free child
I started writing this poem on the back of an unopened Hydro bill. Maybe I knew it'd be a charged poem. This poem carries a lot of weight for me right now. It's been hard. This poem is hard. But this poem is also the cocoon of patience that I am embodying to grow my wings.
This poem was the last challenge for James' and I's Summer Writing Extravaganza. The challenge was to write a butterfly poem- and I thank James for having this as the last challenge of the month. It was perfect, and perfectly fitting.
You can read all about our challenges below, and please feel free to try any of them out:
About the Creator
Oneg In The Arctic
A queer storyteller and poet of arctic adventures, good food, identity, mental health, and more.
Co-founder of Queer Vocal Voices
Water is Life ✊
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The Devil's Triangle
The sails ruffled in the breeze as we cruised along. The Sea Breeze was a mid-size catamaran that sailed out of Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda. We had booked this trip weeks in advance and were now looking at our Captain, Spike and two boat hands. Paddy and Wilson seemed like nice guys, joking around with the passengers and telling us some stories about Bermuda that only locals would know. Their island accents sounded almost British but they were pleasant to listen to.
By Barbara Gode Wilesa day ago in Fiction
Comments (27)
I read something this week about the time in a cocoon. The caterpillar doesn’t just change- its essence dissolves and the butterfly is knit from that matter that’s left. It’s both more final and creative than I’d considered.
Very beautiful poem!
lovely poem
Absolutely beautiful.
This is so beautiful, Oneg! Such wise and inspirational words 🥹 Congrats on Top Story!! I've been on a break from Vocal, but I'll be back to catch up on more of your work soon 🥹❤️
"there are lessons left in trails of tears." This line is a lesson within itself! So very well said! Loved this and congrats on Top Story.
incredible! congratulations on top story :)
What a beautiful poem to end on. I know you will emerge triumphant, spread your beautiful wings and fly high 💖 🦋
Profound- 💙🦋😉Congratulations on your Top Story 💖🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Beautiful! I wanna try this now!
Beautiful poem!
This poem perfectly describes recovery for me, rising from the ashes, how it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes so much and it is a harrowing and amazing journey.
This poignant and beautiful poem is transcendent! I feel its navigation of terrain and spirit journey. Kudos! 💙
Nice Post
Well done on Top Story! I don’t know how I haven’t already commented given that I added you into my Lust For Words yesterday ❤️✨🥰 It was a poem that I sincerely appreciated journeying through🙏 beautiful work
This was a great poem. I don’t know when I’ll get to it but I want to give this challenge a try. I already have a butterfly poem but that one is already written and published on vocal and I think in the spirit of the challenge I’ll write a new one. I kinda have an idea for a butterfly poem with a darker take
I'm so sorry things have been hard for you lately. This was such a beautifully written poem. Sending you lots of love and hugs ❤️
Beautiful poem Oneg. 'there are lessons left in trails of tears' and 'there is patience wrapped around you suffocating you with the desire to heal and fly away' were especially gorgeous lines.
So delicate and beautifully written. this line resonated so much t'he slow crawl of aching survival'. Stunning. 🤍
Very interesting poem. I do wonder if you get butterflies in the Arctic? I hope everything is ok with you . Sending good vibes 🙂
I hope this one gets Top Story, otherwise we will all know that something is very off 🧐
gorgeous work Oneg! Very inspiring! BRAVO! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
This is a powerful poem, Oneg! The last stanza hit me with all the feels! I know you tagged me on Facebook, but the tag got lost in the sea of notifications I receive, so my apologies for not responding to you earlier. I plan on participating in this specific challenge, as I love the concept. I'm just in the middle of several book release right before my vacation. Hopefully, everything will calm down after my return!
Take courage, my friend, & be well.
Loved this!!! It's hopeful and inspirational!!!❤️❤️💕