Paper Crane
I bow, I fold, I crease
I am a paper crane bowing.
Origami
Neck bent
Wings sharply angled
Every crease a pain
All in the name of peace.
Every shouted insult
Every unveiled threat
Every moment lived
in the tight-squeezing grip of rage
Every pang of loss and grief
When again my dreams of peace were torn like paper
Made me this sharp
pointed
jagged
bent
folded and unfolded and refolded
Creature of many points of view.
Or many points.
Many angles, each one promising peace around the next corner
One more fold
One more wrinkle.
I crane a thousand times over, yet where is peace? I bow
Yet you never fold, you never bend, you never seem like paper.
Bits of me strung together
Blowing in the wind
One more for peace
A thousand more.
One more day in hope
One more night shuddering in cold
One more question crying to the void
“Will you ever be peace? Will you ever be love?”
You were my Hiroshima.
I tried to save us
My peace offerings were paper set ablaze
My neck no more folds at a sharp angle.
I am not a paper crane bowing.
I am something that can look up and fly away.
About the Creator
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Keep reading
More stories from Holly Pheni and writers in Poets and other communities.
Turning Pages of Life
Life’s like a book — some parts are good, others not so much. Still, keep turning the pages; you might find the best chapter next. If someone hurts you, choose to forgive or just let it be, but never change who you are for them.
By Emily Chan - Life and love sharing4 days ago in Poets
Comments (20)
This became unexpectedly full-on! Excellent work full of feeling! 😊👍
Terrific work ❤️💯🫶🏾🎊Congratulations on your Top Story🦋
For many years, I was a paper crane bowing. Now I'm learnings to look up and fly away. Loved your poem so much!
I really love that you ended this on a positive note; this poem was very relatable with wonderful, beautiful symbolism. Great work! :)
Very interesting. Outstanding symbolism.
wow. This is fabulous. Really well done.
This really resonated. I love that you ended it with strength. The imagery and word choices were incredibly well done. Truly wonderful work :)
All in the name of peace. Fantastic. I felt every crease and fold, and the prospect of being free to fly away, enlightening and tremendously freeing. I loved this
Stunning and so, so moving. ❤️
Such vivid imagery. More of this, please!
Nice
This was too good! thanks for sharing it
So great!
Origami as art and ceremony for post-traumatic shock. Culturally accurate. A lot of Japanese culture (and zazen) is about little else; and much the world should be grateful. And for thee.
Love this, thank you for sharing…
This was too good! thanks for sharing it
I love this!! Very creative, powerful, and captivating!
I remember folding cranes for a friend's mother who was quite ill. I have lost the skill, but I am tempted to relearn it now. A wonderful poem.
Wow, that was beautiful
Such careful and beautiful use of words, amazing piece!