Poets logo

Caterpillar Destroys, Butterflies Rise

#VocalNPM

By Cole GomezPublished 5 years ago 2 min read
Like

This uncertainty is hanging strangely right outside of my cage

The answers I seek are vaguely out of my range

And I know the only way I can change this deranged vulnerability

Is to ignite my pain-stricken creativity

Burn paper with my mediocre vocabulary

Destroy everything that isn’t necessary

I lift my pen, put my head back down again and breathe fire

Onto the things, thoughts, and thorns keeping me from my desire

As the flames engulf me I am confident to climb higher

But the burning whispers beneath me never cease to insult and repulse me

It’s like I’m relapsing, collapsing, backtracking

so I replace my kneecaps with concrete waxing

Searching for a certain stability to keep me standing

But a solid foundation becomes a weight I never agreed upon

In order to let go, I take a hammer and shatter what I thought I had relied on

Choke back the pain, say goodbye, and move along

But soon I realize my eyes are bone dry, I can’t cry

Because my life is not defined nor designed to be linear

It’s built for ups and downs, no physical barriers

To get where I’m going, I must ride this roller coaster

I’ll scale this mountain of fire with scorching desire to reach the peak–

NO

To reach the summit

Because topographically, the summit is mathematically the highest point

But to reach the top is only a vital checkpoint

From here I will test my wings, toughen up, step off, and trust it

I no longer feel like a solid substance, just pure ashes of a detached spirit

I train myself to listen and I hear the sweet, sublime whines of the wind drowning out the whispers from which I desperately descend

My chest will now rise and fall without shame

It’s no surprise that in my brain this is just a game

But there’s no time-outs, no ref to announce my double bounce, and no substitutes, only jurors countering my countersuits

No audience cheering in the stands as I take the stand to testify my right to exemplify how a caterpillar can so quickly become a butterfly

It’s obvious there’s no witness of my growth but mine and mine alone, but this fire inside of me I will never revoke

I know no difference between falling and flying because rising and destroying is the only way I know how to keep climbing without dying

performance poetry
Like

About the Creator

Cole Gomez

A young woman with an old soul, hiding behind her pen since '94. Loves words and birds. You can find her at your local hardware store buying another houseplant because she finds comfort in knowing her surroundings are growing as she does.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.