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Poetic Paradise

Sometime's what we need is a change of perspective, instead of a change of scenery.

By KJ AartilaPublished about a year ago Updated 11 months ago 3 min read
5
Poetic Paradise
Photo by Rachel Cook on Unsplash

Leaving for the tropics,

escaping someone else’s lies.

She left her heart behind her;

repeatedly, she sighs.

***

Grieving for the years she missed

beyond a settled life,

where she lingered much too long,

embraced within her strife.

***

She broke free from an icy grip,

for sirens of the sea,

singing softly to remind her

of who she used to be.

***

Hoping new perspective

underneath the sun,

would find the little girl she lost

while she was on the run.

________________________

She met him on the beach that day,

toes buried in the sand;

while sipping an umbrella drink

in a hot and foreign land.

***

She couldn’t stop the voices,

the echoes in her head.

Brilliant caution flags ignored,

her heart won out instead.

***

Discussing future promises

knowing she could never stay;

they decided on a different path,

where he would go her way.

***

So choices for a life of change

he promised to her eyes,

glistening in the color

of distant, twilight skies.

__________________________

They watched the scenery pass below,

the sky turned from azure blue,

snow drifting over landscape,

his tanned features changing, too.

***

She found him on the island,

where his sunny roots ran deep.

She brought him to the Northland,

where his soul would never keep.

***

When they touched down in the Heartland,

his blood turned icy cold,

as shown in his actions and

words better left untold.

***

Angered by the choice he made,

he now appeared uncertain.

This could never be his fault, he claimed -

only her manipulation

________________________

She wrapped her scarf around her,

stepping out to greet the wind.

He shivered in the bluster,

with glaring eyes, he grinned.

***

Though she had firmly told him

he needed to adjust,

he accused her of deceit instead,

his face twisted in disgust.

***

They tried to make the best of it.

He blamed her for the gloom.

The new year brought life lessons;

with spite, he left her room.

***

For way too long, she blamed herself,

holed up in her head,

with too much wine and ice cream,

her bitter soul seemed dead.

___________________________

She ventured from her prison one day

to see she held the key.

She heard a horse beyond her walls,

a prince she did not see.

***

She leaped upon the great beast’s back

galloping to glory.

In that moment, a choice was made

to never again be sorry

***

for showing strength despite her fears,

inspite of many tries.

Now she leaves many peers behind,

shouting angry cries

***

“You need takin care of!”

“You can’t do it on your own!”

“Get married, be a good girl!”

“Only Crazies are alone!!”

_____________________________

She did not want to be an island,

someone else’s scene -

(too much sun will burn you,

when you forget the screen.)

***

She dressed up in her winter gear

to meet a familiar date,

where she knew her destiny,

would lead her to her fate.

***

She danced among the twinkle lights,

alone and happy to be so.

Others watched with fascination;

her skin, enveloped by a glow.

***

She bought herself a chocolate heart,

happy to be free,

accepting selfless invitations,

enjoying her own company.

___________________________

As the afternoons grew longer

with the shadows on the ground,

She siftied through cast embers,

a shining spark was found.

***

With a breath, she nurtured it

until it burst into a flame.

Waltzing with the breezes,

it then called her by name.

***

Soon, it would be springtime,

the change of season always nice.

She didn’t need the tropics

to find her paradise.

AdventureLove
5

About the Creator

KJ Aartila

A writer of words in northern WI with a small family and a large menagerie.

My Substack

Reader insights

Outstanding

Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!

Top insights

  1. Eye opening

    Niche topic & fresh perspectives

  2. Heartfelt and relatable

    The story invoked strong personal emotions

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Comments (7)

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  • Paul Stewartabout a year ago

    This was beautiful. I loved the sense of fun with it. Had me hooked from the beginning and such a skill to craft a story that is poetic and rhymes without sounded laboured! Well done! Loved it and glad the character found her freedom in the end!

  • Lamar Wigginsabout a year ago

    I also enjoyed this engaging tale. I definitely hearted this one. 💖

  • A great take on the challenge telling your story in verse

  • Caroline Janeabout a year ago

    That was fun and unique!! Nice work. 👍

  • Kelli Sheckler-Amsdenabout a year ago

    Beautiful. Love the poem story ❤️

  • Cathy holmesabout a year ago

    Oh, what a tale. This is fabulous.

  • Heather Hublerabout a year ago

    Oh, that was beautiful! Full of emotion and strength. Loved it :)

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