She Broke Through

A poem of self discovery

She broke through the final tangle of the twinning thick briars,

sharp enough to pierce her skin.

Seeing the light beyond, she bid final farewell

to the caverns, to the peaks, to the forest, so thick she couldn’t see the trees.

She gave gratitude to the Earth, for her part as guide along her journey.

As the light grew stronger, fire visited to remind her fire burns, it purifies.

She also sees that embers built on burning rage would burn inside

until she released the anger, released the blame.

Now that fire is as it should be, back to an innocent flame.

Her gratitude is great as she surrenders and steps into the sun’s brilliant rays.

She’s grateful for the sweat sheening on her face.

The air brushes her skin, sending a chill throughout,

that first breath was the first true breath she’d even taken.

With the release, she could only let go.

Now she can fly, raising her arms, wondrous feathers of gold and white unfold,

she was free.

With the wind she rose to now only observe with more clarity from above.

Into skies so blue, with this new perspective.

She’s too keen to ignore the storms brewing in the distance,

and she finally understands. Yes… there’s more.

Fight or flight, so much adrenaline kicks in… but the air is with her

and she just breaths in and listens to her guide, her heart.

Straight into the storm she flies, strong to face head on what awaits.

Finally the clouds begin to thin, below is a paradise to behold.

With a waterfall musically dancing into the deep, deep pool of blue.

She gives gratitude to the air as she leaves that too behind.

Fearless now she dived right in, swimming with the ocean of her.

Peaceful silence blesses her, as she quickly descends.

That safe thick blue surrounded her, even as skeletons were found.

She freed them into open arms, where she enfolds with love

integrating them back within.

After all is explored, peace beacons her to stay but that first breath calls

her to ascend again, calling her back to truth.

Her grinning face greets the sun, a new understanding begins.

She slowly swims along towards the shore

with new eyes she takes the beauty surrounding her in.

She blesses the water with every step,

as she makes her way to the beach with tears of gratitude, of coming home.

They spill over to fall to the gentle water and blend.

She isn’t tired but still, she lays on that shore, to once again touch the earth,

to feel that connection deep within. Her head and gut are no longer

fighting within, they are quiet only her heart lives.

She knows she’s found home in her heart within.

It beats along with Mother Earth, she’s reluctant to rise

but as she does her toes tingle, letting her know with that beat, she’s alive.

Her feet take the lead, they know where to go…

And there stands a tree with roots as above so below.

It’s there inside the truth of herself where she shall make her home.

There she found the comfort, that internal embrace.

And even the ugliest of her roots, she also embraced, loving life into them again,

giving them honor and her thanks. For even that gave her comfort

as those final chains released.

As time went on, she continued to explore, one was all now,

Even the unexpected thorns.

It’s then she would again take flight, to see what was found.

to see it with fright or truth, truth would be embrace, fright had no place there.

One day as she’s gathering flowers along her path,

She stumbles over newly exposed roots, bleeding from an unseen wound.

Her love for them wells up and drops her to her knees.

First her tears of sadness gives moisture that they seek.

Then gives the warmth of her love, strong like the sun.

She lays there among them until they are with her as one.

As the self she thought she was melts away from those most damaged roots,

fresh spouts emerge, a new tree of life has begun.

 

 

 

 

 

Reviews

[B J Hughes]

A wonderful use of metaphor for an emerging spirit and it's flight into a new and wonderful life. And in the final verses, the lovely self discovery and a tender healing. So much imagery portrayed beautifully, like murals painted on the canvas of my mind. Held this reader's interest from first line until the last.

[JL Jacobs]

What a poignant poem based on one's spirit. I truly loved reading this.

"The air brushes her skin, sending a chill throughout,
that first breath was the first true breath she’d even taken.
With the release, she could only let go.
Now she can fly, raising her arms, wondrous feathers of gold and white unfold,
she was free."

You have the mind of a true visionary. Well done!