Paper Hearts

love should never be caged

Paper Hearts

By

Carlos Lorenzo Estrada 

Scattered colored paper hearts

Adorn the floor in enchanted smiles

Like ribbons of rainbow fantasy 

popped balloons of candy flair

I contemplate the bars of my captivity 

What side is freedom and what side prison 

There are cages abound set to trap

From one heart to another, laying in wait 

I will not be kept, for fondness nor regret

A prisoner of will to one's adored intent

I take to flight too wild in heart

A bird flying toward dream's end

Author's Note

My muse Cate Blanchett says I'm too clingy. She states "I have an aversion to your perversion." That cut me deep. Feel free to comment or leave thoughts. Thank you for stopping by.

Reviews

[Red Brick Keshner]

At certain times in our lives, such things as paper confetti can trigger intense emotions and memories. For one singular moment they seem the world entire to ourselves, and leave a lasting imprint that affects our future selves, permanently. As for Cate, she has been an elusive muse from day one. And I share your being 'cut' more than words can express. Thanks for sharing. /Frederick.

[Chris Shaw]

A caged heart is not a free heart. Paper hearts remind me of confetti, they remind me of weddings. You brought me a memory Carlos, a precious one of my paternal grandmother. She loved weddings so much and the thought of wedded bliss, she would buy confetti and stand outside the local church on a Saturday afternoon, to shower the newly weds. She was such a loving soul and you have brought her back to me today. Your poetry has the power of travel. I like that. Keep well my friend.

Chris

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much Chris for sharing your precious memory with me. I am reminded of one of my own as you mentioned confetti. I remember back in the early 70's while in grade school the teacher handed us colored ribbons and scissors. It was Valentine's day so she decided we were to make confetti. And also cards from folded color paper. I'll never forget as the school period drew to a close all the students started throwing the confetti up in the air and it rained down on all of us 3rd graders different colors. It was the purist moment of adolescent joy I still can remember from that time. I can still see my first crush from across the room as the bits of tiny colors drifted down in the air. I would pine for that girl until 7th grade when she and her family moved away. She never knew the massive crush I had for her those many years. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and reminding me of such a sweet memory as well.

[JE Falcon]

Wooooo, so many colors and visions galore. SO --- "I take to flight too wild in heart
A bird flying toward dream's end".

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I agree this piece has such a huge message behind it and is painted in such wide strokes on a canvas of love. Much of it inspired by strong female influences in my life. Aunts who were never married and didn't feel the need to be tied down. As a child I would play beneath the kitchen table as they would gossip amongst each other. Many of their stories are funny and too blue to ever reveal. But quite a few morsels of wisdom seeped into my child's mind as I listened to them. They inspire much of my writings. Thank you again my friend.

[Lisasview]

I suspect your muse knows you better than anyone.
So many fascinating lines..full of metaphors that capture me..and make me think..
Lisa

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you kindly Lisa for the nice comment on this poem. Parts of this work is inspired by an aunt who experienced the free love of the 60's. The decade I was born into. Her views of love had always astounded me. She truly was a liberated soul. As I have stated in the past to a few others most of my work is inspired by strong female role models who influence most of my writing. I am blessed to have known them. Thank you so much again.

[Lisasview]

You are most welcome.. I was a teenager in the 60's and free love was a very big thing in the 70's...so I completely understand your message.
Lisa

[andrew mitchell]

Nice work Carlos, reminds me of a song by the theme Young hearts run free.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you Andrew for your comment. This piece was a bit of a reminder of someone who I adored but could not be tied down. It was like her heart was made of wind and it was not meant for anyone to cage. When I read this I simply nod and smile in remembrance. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me on this piece. I truly appreciate it.

[Vertigo Cat1111]

Wow- the way you made this poem somehow so colorful and charming and like a world of its own is amazing. ‘Scattered colored paper hearts, adorn the floor in enchanted smiles’. Truly, that’s in an enchanting line in of itself and I think this is one of my personal favorites of yours- although I feel like I say that every time, but that’s how you know how much better your writing gets each time! Also, I adore the extra story in your authors note every time. It never fails to deliver an amusing story! Thank you for sharing (:

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for the kind comment. This poem was a remembrance of a couple of women I loved that were very strong and independent. They loved life too much to ever be tied down. They viewed every heart a trap trying to capture them and keep them from freedom. I actually admired their independence and inner strength. And adored their flighty nature. Thank you again Colacat for your thoughts I always appreciate them.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Sharing a paper heart is a danger.
It seems in the realm of love there is always someone laying in wait.

Excellent poem as always.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment on this poem Cherrie. I appreciate it. Those that are wild of heart can't be tamed. They view every other heart as as a trap ready to ensnare them and cage them forever. In my life I have fallen for a couple of free wheeling souls that couldn't be tied down. Nor should they ever be.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Yes some don't really want to be loved just appreciated from time to time.

[William Michael Reeves]

I wish I could show you how to fold an origami heart I know. Cate would exclaim "now your perversions are folded!" But the time would pass so quickly as you wait keeping your hands busy behind bars until eventually the sheer weight of your hearts would break the gate.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you William for sharing your thoughts on this poem. Wild of heart, yearning to be free, no one's love, shall capture me.

[W. Barrett Munn]

You have real talent. Keep pushing to make it perfect. Revise, revise, revise until when you read it the words all seem to have been born on the page, never yours but belonging to some infinite source that allows us to touch it now and then.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for the kind encouragement but the 6 yr old eyes can only look at a screen for so long before I start to get a headache. Every now nd than though I do go back and review and revise a piece. Like any other writer I consider most of my work unfinished. I'm never truly happy with anything I have written with the exception of two poems. "Butterfly" and "the serpent and the Holy Man" those two are complete. The rest are all works in progress. Thank you again I really appreciate it.

[keith]

I contemplate the bars of my captivity
What side is freedom and what side prison
wiser words are seldom spoken
tell your muse to keep on musing

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Thank you for this comment you have seen the wisdom of this poem in which it was intended.

[keith]

i see say the blind man