Bookworm Butterfly

Books are a doorway to worlds never seen and a solace and strength to shy shattered girls.

She used to shape the pages into cranes;

and she dreamed of flying on paper wings.

She watched them drift beyond the windowpanes

and thought how lovely they danced on her strings.

She folded the vellum with gentle touch

more delicate than those she knew so well

and dreamed of love, loving ever so much,

and loving more than she ever could tell.

For love was a dream to shy shattered girls,

who lament in secret behind a smile.

She folded her dreams in little blonde curls

and dared to dream them for a little while.

Her wings were crushed beneath the weight of years,

of midnight stains, and the glimmer of youth

whose hopes were washed away in hopeless tears,

who learned sooner that there is pain in truth.

She plucked the petals off the daisy stem.

Does she love me, or does she love me not?

and she skirted around her mother’s hem

looking for love and receiving it not.

She curled between pages and closed her eyes

and assumed the wings of a crimson dove.

She touched the sky and felt sweet freedom’s cries

and tasted the splendor of God’s great love.

She spun her words, washing them in deep pines,

scripting her soul in the sky overhead,

and composed a fate read between the lines

of indigo ink and the tears she shed.

Her roots were planted in soils of sorrow

sweetened by the green breath of heaven’s door,

which unlocked promises of tomorrow

that promised her more than the days before.

She found shelter and strength within its spine

as it whispered and wept within her hand

and took to the leather’s gold-gilded shine

when there was no one else to understand.

She could lose herself with a single look

and fall between pages that lingered nigh

whose prose and poetry cradled the nook

of the broken-winged bookworm butterfly.

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

I think this speaks volumes about your love of books and their freedom effect giving us wings to fly and imaginations to shape in sheltering us within their pages and cradling us in the growth of knowledge. What a wonderful poem, ma'm...:)................

[emmajoy]

' She found shelter and strength within its spine -- as it whispered and wept within her hand -- and took to the leather’s gold-gilded shine -- when there was no one else to understand. -- She could lose herself with a single look -- and fall between pages that lingered nigh -- whose prose and poetry cradled the nook -- of the broken-winged bookworm butterfly. '

Those words brought tears to my eyes - simple as that. From start to my chosen quote i could read and understand the way in which you lived through books and, in a way, used them as crutches which - eventually, strengthened your resolve, your spirit, your YOU.

Not only do you write with your heart, you adhere to meter, to care and respect for form. You always have, you always will.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Dear Emma,

As you can see, I haven't been on for a while; and I am ever so grateful for thoughtful and beautiful review. I can't help but feel that most poets have lived this life. Isn't it a joy to think that you could write something to heal another and strengthen them on their journey?

Thanks again.

[emmajoy]

You're very welcome, Linda. Please come back soon, soon, SOON! Writers of your calibre are truly needed.

[ANTO]

As a boy, I spent many, many hours in the local library, devouring all the words and pictures i could. I didn't recognise it as escapism but it was of course, being somewhat of a misfit, I was escaping the reality of my childhood with my friends; Dr Seuss, Roald Dahl, CS Lewis and Enid Blyton, Hergé and Goscinny and Uderzo to name a few.

Your beautiful poem spoke to me and reminded me of my many childhood 'friends'.
Thank you for sharing this Linda Marie.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I imagine that most of us here fall into this category. I wasn't allowed to have friends so, as a loner, my friends were books. There used to be a small bookstore downtown, and I would walk down there everyday. The old man that owned the store would allow me to bring a bag full of books home in exchange for helping him clean the store; and clean I did! :-) It was the best paycheck ever. I would read up to five books a day; and would even prop one up in between the glasses in the cabinet to read as I was washing dishes. It used to drive my mother crazy. Add to the fact that I was into opera as well. Oh, Lord! She just couldn't take it. LOL "Turn that *** off!" and "Put down that **** book!" Then, on the flip side, I was singing, "Like A Virgin" with Madonna. I have always had this desire to understand and know things that were outside of my being. She was way too comfortable in her own misery and hatred to ever look towards the light.

[ANTO]

Wow! Its just as well you were able to find some kind souls who took you 'under their wing' - so to speak Linda Marie. What an amazing story. I feel honoured that you are sharing it with me, with us. Thank you. :))

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Linda Marie,

The images are sumptuous, yet the poem retains a dreamy air. Gorgeous words describing unfulfilled longings and escape into the pages of a book. Nicely done. This was greatly enjoyed.

Kudos. High marks.

Best regards,

Rick

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Your words are high praise indeed and are happily received. Thank you so much.

[Richard🖌]

Well, Dear Linda,
Such a monumentally, magnificently composed work certainly deserves kudos, and from me you have them a'plenty.
The emotional, yearning, fantasizing, and poignant ambiance of moments imbued throughout your words virtually swept me away into your world, under your skin, into your core and spoke much of the person you are and what's brought you to who you've become, and I loved it … so much, in fact, I read through it several times, developing a feeling (bit by bit) that I know you quite well, if it makes any sense that I could from a poem; but, are not our poems reflections of our essences, who we are, and isn't each verse a portion, thereof, of the whole?
I am still a bit stunned from the skill required to overflow the manner in which you have, the consciousness of mind and understanding of self … I came away with a distinct sense that you have come to terms with your youth and now know yourself very well, even if still haunted by much from years past (aren't most all of us?); yet, with just enough determination, understanding, maturity, and developed confidence to carry it all with grace, beauty, and dignity.

Bless you, Dear Linda, the poetess and the woman of stature you have become!
Warmest hugs of gratitude to you for sharing this most amazing part of yourself with us, through your wonderful pencraft! ~ Richard

PS: On the technical aspect, I am amazed how you faithfully stuck to a 10-count and abab rhyme scheme throughout, and I especially like how you paired your quatrains to shorten the visual length (quite artful), even when your penultimate line embraced a 9-count, it fit perfectly and flowed seamlessly into your last, and in fact, your final verse is my very favorite; but, having said that, every verse is, too. I really enjoyed this wondrous metamorphosis of You ~ from butterfly to lady. : )

Lastly, but most definitely not least, "Thank you, Linda, for reading and reviewing me."

The pictures? Perfect!

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Your view is greatly appreciated, your word most kind, and I am humbled by the time you took to express yourselves. Being the Type A, OCD, perfectionist that I am, your comment about my last line being a 9-count set me spinning. What?!? Tell me, it's not so. I spend so much time perfecting everything from form to content. Surely, did not do that.

Thank goodness, I didn't It's a 10-count for sure.

Once again, I am very appreciative of your time and talent and greatly enjoyed reading so many of your poems last night.

[Richard🖌]

Ha-hah!
Linda, it must surely have been my dotage creeping-in! ; )

Regardless, I'm not so daft that i did not love this tremendously, M'Lady … bless you warmly! ~ RJ

[Church]

Hello Linda.

I really enjoyed, and appreciated, the structure of this poem you shared. Poetry is not my forte. However, when I do read it, I enjoy a rhyming scheme and smooth word flow, which you very successfully provided.

I get lost in books as well. Often, I find myself unable to set down a book once I've started.
This seemed to tell a story of what drove you into the world of literature, and it was well received. Good job.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I can honestly say that my love for reading and writing poetry is directly attributable to my not so desirable childhood or lack thereof. My whole life is lemonade! :-)

Thank you for reading and for the review. I greatly appreciate it.

[~]

What a poem.. It brings both smiles and sadness. I can identify with finding a whole new world in books.
The transformation is just beautiful to see. I am sure the girl is a strong woman now. :D

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you. Books are an immense treasure trove, and I have never known such riches. They sheltered me and strengthened me. That frightened little girl is too strong a woman at times. :-) Thank you for reading.

[~]

you are welcome Linda :D
good to hear she is :D

[Dean]

I so very much know what you mean about books, that speak with the silent subtlety of a butterfly plus the ever-informed power of an index to the world. Like you, I am tireless in pursuit of at least one thing--the opening secrets of my ever-lengthening list of books to devour.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, Dean. For me, books were a retreat and escape from a very dark place. At the same time, they enlightened the mind and gave me an education beyond compare.

[Dean]

I hope they still do.