You collect bodies and souls like butterflies,
pinned neatly to your wall.
Pretty wings
gorgeous things
Shining colours.
Coaxed with the promise of a big open soul,
bleeding honey,
small drops all over your chest
until my tiny feet get sticky in it
and my wings are glued.
I fell again,
Lured by the sides of your mouth
and the way they create smiling crevices,
by how much I wanted my mouth to be near them.
the pins were a shock to my body,
when your indifference laughed it’s evil laugh
and you pierced me right through.
I couldn’t feel it at first.
I sat listening to everyone’s words when I felt my body grow cold
and my head heard thousands of needles drop on a concrete floor.
It wasn’t until my throat felt swollen and I couldn’t breathe properly
that I looked down at myself and saw the wounds
and the trickle of blood running out of them.
I can’t free myself.
I am hoping.
Always hopeful,
regretfully hopeful.
I am hoping someone will enter this small room and find me.
Gently pull these pins out of me and lift me off the wall
to be placed firmly by your side,
feeling the earth and all it’s life
in between my toes again.
Naked as I came, a little faded from the winter
13/04/2008
bad weekend…how was yours?
LisaG, 2 months ago
Oh Jess, this is wonderfully written – yet painful to read….I hope that true friendship, will assist with the removal of those pins that sting you…
XOXOX
thetatecreative, 2 months ago
wow…i’ve got a feeling someone will.
Ozcloggie, 2 months ago
Not being silly but sounds like this butterfly collector is someone not worthy of so much unhappiness.
ltruskett, 2 months ago
Fabulous reading. Painful, but tender too.
atomikboy, 2 months ago
Insect collectors huh!!!....Put a pin through them….LOL.
Yasemin Sumner, 2 months ago
Pretty little butterfly… what a wonderful metaphor…the second last stanza makes me cry and smile at the same time and that’s my favourite thing to do… YES! x
Nicole Ryan, 2 months ago
i LOVE the opening two lines .. so much there ..
this is beautiful, contained and has such gorgeous imagery .. emotive …
xx
Chris White, 2 months ago
I like the metaphor you’ve used here too, and the contrast of pain and tenderness.
Alf Caruana, 2 months ago
Ah Jessica that is awesome writing, I keep reading over and over
Paul Louis Vil..., 2 months ago
Words so real, so full of factual pain.
Wounded words, bleeding of hope.
Hugs mate! :)
Robert Knapman, 2 months ago
What a fabulous metaphore – masterly created and executed (if I can use that word)
Christi, 2 months ago
AWW I am sorry to here your weekend was bad but I hope it makes you feel better when I say I relate to the weekend and the poem. It makes me feel better to know I am not alone.
Stacey Yount, 2 months ago
Wow! Just incredible! I loved how it progressed!
Zolton, 2 months ago
“Pretty wings, gorgeous things”.... here’s to another weekend. Love your work.
DarkHotel, 2 months ago
..it is so amazing what you can do with words…!
BlaizerB, 2 months ago
beautiful descriptive work dripping with imagery, cheers
Luckyvegetable, 2 months ago
Made me cry, pretty lady. This is so heartbreakingly lovely. I’m sorry you had a rough weekend. But thank you for the dances, you definitely showed your beautiful colours.
hug.
Nicolas Hall, 2 months ago
I can only echo everyones praise. . . and add this. . .
There is a twisted truth in this world that so many people are inexplicably drawn to that which they themselves cannot be. . . and among us, those who fly with the freest of hearts are usually the ones they want to pin down. . . to keep. .. to possess.
Whatever the deed or the wound, it will never destroy the wings of the phoenix. .. you will rise. .. you will heal. . . you will soar.
You must.
beautiful work. . .
aglaia b, 2 months ago
’...I am hoping someone will enter this small room and find me. Gently pull these pins out of me and lift me off the wall
to be placed firmly by your side,...’ lovely poetry. well done.
Trish Cooper, 2 months ago
Oh so sad but so well written Jess…you connect with your readers so amazingly well…it is because you give a true piece of yourself whenever you write….what a gift you have….Sending rays of loving and healing light your way Jess…..please take care…...and keep writing if it helps…it can be so cathartic….....HUGS Trishaxoxoxo
bellmusker, 2 months ago
Jess, this is so beautifully written and evocative…....as Lisa said, true friends will gently remove the pins with their love and tenderness, until you’re ready to be lifted off that wall and feel the earth between your toes. But please keep these words close to your heart: a man has to EARN the right to be next to you. Don’t squander it on this fucker.
Much love to you, Liebchen x x x x
LostBoy, 2 months ago
:(
Kristy Lee, 2 months ago
Gawd…that hurt to read. HUGGGS. Your writing is exquisite, as are you, my honey. Will see you soon.
MichaelCouacaud, 2 months ago
beautiful
vertigodog78, 2 months ago
That second stanza killed me, man.
pixie3, 2 months ago
This is absolutely beautiful.
lolowe, 2 months ago
This was really an incredible piece of work.
Jboo09, 2 months ago
This literally made me cry. You have an amazing talent, and your poetry really really speaks to me. This is one of my favorite things I think I’ve ever read, I can’t even describe how much I love this poem Jessica!!! Going straight to my favorites so I can remember it always.