There was an echo when
the train came…
and the earth stood still to listen to
their names…
and below the risen seats of pharaohs,
my heart broke in their shadows,
as bells of victory and triumph for them
rang.
*
Maybe I
just missed the doorway,
as callings for our souls were being
made;
maybe I
was somewhere far away and dreaming -
never seeing how
(I maybe)
was not free enough this time,
to stay.
*
Paper butterflies don’t fly,
(but maybe)
they’ll still remind you
of the spring,
and as I
decorate your kitchen…
maybe you’ll still
listen to me as I sing.
*
I waited while
they read me;
and like mosaic tiles,
they hung up all my PIECES to be seen;
only to never truly see me
for what I
<collectively>
could have been if only I’d
been sewn together with their seams.
*
And maybe my
words weren’t nearly deep enough,
(like oceans)
that roar with mystery, divine;
and maybe my
liberty of syntax wasn’t steep enough;
maybe I blurred my
“love at first sight” storyline.
And there was always maybe…
but as I wrote I thought that maybe I
had frozen for them that first moment
when baby I first saw your
lovely outline (for the first time)
in the sky.
*
Paper butterflies don’t fly,
(but maybe)
they’ll still make you
look outside,
and as my
painted colors fade into the sunlight…
maybe you’ll still
remember me tonight.
*
I wondered how
I lost them
in a dipping sea of love, sweet love,
(through words);
I was so sure
I was so certain I had captured
“happily ever after”
and the glow of life, transferred…
between two beings that after all that time
had come together,
(for forever)
in paradigms, reheard.
*
And maybe my
direction was too hallow,
maybe I *followed* their
instruction all too closely, to a "T",
maybe what they really wanted
was a single stone thrown and
deviated
from the path I wandered happily.
But I was thinking, maybe:
sometimes simplicity...
can be key to finding
ridiculously beautiful
rhythmic eternity,
and as I wandered I did stumble...
on serendipity,
and I thought that I'd discovered
unfiltered liberty.
*
And paper butterflies don’t fly,
(but maybe)
they’ll still make you
in my direction, sway;
and as my
paper wings look lovely by your window sill,
maybe you’ll still
keep me around to stay.
*
I contemplated changing
and rearranging all my
words to sound like theirs;
I thought maybe I wasn’t
well-versed enough to be
truly noticed by their glares.
But as I crumbled all my treasures…
like dust and feathers,
my pieces floated in the air -
and like a lotus, bloomed before me
and before I knew it,
I was right back to where…
I’d started,
I was there.
*
And maybe I am meant to be
a paper butterfly
that brightens up your room;
maybe I’ll be free one day
but for now I’ll sleep in my cocoon.
And I can be a "happily ever after",
(having blossomed from disaster)
leaving a piece of me behind
that lingers...like perfume.
*
And paper butterflies don’t fly
(but maybe)
they’ll still catch the glitter
(in your eyes),
and as my
paper wings reflect the daylight
maybe you will know
I’m somehow free inside,
tonight.
*
-Gina C.🧚♀️✨
***
Author's Note: I wrote this poem after having poured my heart and soul into something and then receiving a less-than-desired outcome. If you read closely enough, you can probably figure out what I'm talking about. :)
I always do my best to be an optimist in life, and after the initial heartache, I was able to break the hold of darkness and become free again.
I'm not sure at what point I started doing it, but I very much enjoy ending my poems on high, uplifting notes. 💫
***
This poem is part of my Signature collection, which is rich in rhyme, very lyrical, quite expansive, and often full of notable, magical elements. If you are interested in reading more poems from this collection, try this one:
Thank you so much for reading! ☺️
I'd be over the moon if we could support each other! I am an active member on the Vocal Discord Server, as well as the Vocal + Assist, Great Incantations, The Vocal Social Society, The Vocal Creators Lounge, and The Medium Writers and Vocal Creators Support Facebook groups. Posting your work there is the best way for me to support you! :) ❤️
About the Creator
Gina C.
Achievements:
- Twice-published in Vocal's Moment of Freedom Collection:
Free-Form poet of ethereal style🧚♀️✨
Fantasy writer
A sucker for a good rhyme☺️
Fueled by a conflicted soul of fire & water
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Comments (20)
Wow, Amazing, and I'm sorry for just now reading this💖😊Congratulations💖🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Great thank u for give me wonderful reading experience keep it up give suggestions my posts and subscribe me !! HAVE A WONDER FUL DAY
Are we not lucky to be able to pour it all out here, for support and love and hope and blessings and heartfelt caring. Better always comes when we least expect it. Fly on butterfly wings my dear.
I was entranced from the beginning and wished I could have been there as support.
I'm so sorry my dear Red Partner. I know how it feels to give something your all and not get what you want in return. I'm so glad you decided to write this beautiful poem to help you deal with it. I loved that the ending was very uploading!
Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
Wow, I really enjoyed this. So many great lines. I loved this one section, read it like three times haha “ words weren’t nearly deep enough, (like oceans) that roar with mystery, divine; and maybe my liberty of syntax wasn’t steep enough; maybe I blurred my “love at first sight” storyline.”
Like a fine wine, this poem is to be enjoyed at your own pace, there's so many levels of meaning. You painted a lovely picture, and I felt the warmth in my heart at the end. ❤️
Paper butterflies, such a beautiful metaphor. Love the optimism at the end. Well done.
Gina, your work is always...just sublime. I hate sounding like a broken record or saying that it becomes meaningless. But, it's true. I am sorry you've gone through some stuff. I hope you are doing better... The hopeful and uplifting end was lovely! I always love the fact that we get wonderful pieces from you, that has been meticulously, almost scientifically put together, without losing their deep emotions. Then we get the author's notes, your little insights that just bring it all together and add greater weight and context. What I guess I'm saying is - loved it! lol. Mumbling over!
The imagery and design of this piece is so rare and to see it done well is rarer still. I lost myself in the delicacy of this. The brightness at the end felt liberating. Beautifully done.
Wow! your ability to add so much rich, meaningful content into one piece is a talent. It reminds about listening to a song that I don't want to end. Great Job!
Wow!!! Stunning, and uplifting indeed! Love this and you! 💕
simple beautiful chaos - that was brilliant!
Love your poetry.
This was very beautiful! I really enjoyed reading your poem, very relatable and cinematic. 🥰
Beautifully written. I love how the poem gives a ray of hope at the end.
I love the image of paper butterflies <3 and that you ended this with hope. Very lovely :)
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing ❤️
"Paper butterflies" nice....