Butterfly Steps
This is our journey out of this cocoon
sequestered from children – from parents
sequestered behind masks,
forgotten smiles and eye makeup defining us.
We were caterpillars
growing fatter and fatter
building up green goo inside us,
until finally spinning silken shrouds.
Were we waiting for Lazarus to reach us
suffocating wrapped in our sheets.
He is not coming back this time,
but neither have we died.
Fingers pushing apart strands of silk,
entwining legs and arms in the dark,
we rise gently on air as sweet as nectar,
in sun as warm as a lovers’ embrace.
What have we become that we must leave this place.
growing fatter and fatter
building up green goo inside us,
until finally spinning silken shrouds.
suffocating wrapped in our sheets.
He is not coming back this time,
but neither have we died.
entwining legs and arms in the dark,
we rise gently on air as sweet as nectar,
in sun as warm as a lovers’ embrace.
3 thoughts on "Butterfly Steps"
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This is great, Alyse. Your metaphor works through all the stanzas. And yes, we do not yet know what we have become.
I wrote this pondering my attendance at the first convention in 2 years. I almost skipped the opening party – but I attended. Can’t say I was my usual “social butterfly “ last night.
All the way through, this is thought-provoking and original. I like the “Lazarus” stanza for its twist-point, and that stanza connects with the ending’s ambiguity.