Poetic Paradise
Sometime's what we need is a change of perspective, instead of a change of scenery.
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.
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
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Comments (7)
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!
I also enjoyed this engaging tale. I definitely hearted this one. 💖
A great take on the challenge telling your story in verse
That was fun and unique!! Nice work. 👍
Beautiful. Love the poem story ❤️
Oh, what a tale. This is fabulous.
Oh, that was beautiful! Full of emotion and strength. Loved it :)