Ana Mariposa

Some call it beauty, others a disease. Anorexia.

 

 

Velveteen skin,

distorted daintily over fragile wings.

 

Inky sapphire bleeds,

like the cracked and chipped vase that once harbored  

the rain they call hope.

She falls.

 

Sinking to the ground like a weathered, pink parasol,

torn from the hands of a dreamer,

she lands.

 

Both wings ripped past the point of repair,

papery cloth  so fine that no needle and thread

can mend.

 

A spine she does not have,

but in its place spread the curved branch

of jutting bone.

Half carcass half girl she lies,

absorbing the whispers of the serpentine river,

her murky reflection screams
“Objects in mirror are much larger than they appear.”

She cries.

 

Her empty soul encased in a shell

mirrors the empty stomach from which all food

is repelled.

Chained to the weight
of the world

her small frame wilts while raindrops drip like angels’ tears,

streaming down from heaven to quench

her thirst for love.

 

Tattered wings drape limp
over taut bone.
Caught in the web of shattered mirrors, she swings

screaming to live she suffocates

in the silk coffin.

She dies.

 

Engraved in the dirt below lay the epitaph

of the ensnared:

Swindled out of life, spun into hate

Hang the broken wings of the butterfly,

For which love came too late.

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

meant to be spoken word but i like it as a free verse as well.

Reviews

[Relic]

You have impressive diction in your writing. The whole description is a sad one. Such a disease has withered the bodies of too many. The butterfly as a metaphor is a perfect representation of the hidden beauty and the shrunken state of of the victim. Great writing for sure.

[Hana Saemon]

this is really sad. I love the flow, imagery used, the description, and sadly enough, i can identify with the content of this poetry. Well penned!

[annabellee]

gorgeous but yet sad write. I loved the imagery. heartfelt and great write :)

[SineadJulia]

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments. It means so much!

[annabellee]

you're most welcome :)

[Glen Yumang Manese]

Reminded me of Karen Carpenter... what a voice and a lost... the disease is not a faint of heart... watching someone go through a phase like you described in the lines... God willing people with the disorder can realize the mirror really shows the truth and not the lie...

[SineadJulia]

I completely agree with you

[Madison.]

Oh. My. I absolutely love this. You have painted a vividly tragic picture.

[SineadJulia]

Thanks so much

[Broken Wings]

This piece captivated me, beautiful imagery, interesting words used and I love the emotion I felt while reading this. I am favouriting this piece. Beautiful write :) (I am a sucker for butterflies)

[SineadJulia]

Thank you! I appreciate it!

[Nona]

She falls - She lands - She cries - She dies ...
a beautiful descending spiral going deeper and deeper in the tragic world of a single human but opening up vast landscapes for exploration of the whole universe
well done!

[SineadJulia]

Thank you so much!