Little Glass Butterfly

Little glass butterfly sitting in my hand
I never knew much of love so I didn’t understand
Why he gave this to me before he had to leave
Little glass butterfly holding all my dreams

There’s a little note in my pocket I dare not read
He put it there before he had to leave
And he told me to read it with an open mind
But an open mind I cannot find
Mine is locked, the key long gone
Hope for our future faded and worn

Little glass butterfly sitting in my hand
Wet with tears I didn’t want to land
Tears I did not want to shed
Tears for him, my love mislead
He pressed that butterfly into my hand
A heavy burden I almost couldn’t stand
“Keep it,” he said, “hold it until
The next time I can be with you.”

I should have known it would end this way
Lonely me, with my love by war pulled away
Nothing left but a note I’d rather not read
And a little glass butterfly a symbol of dead dreams
I’ll hold it and hold it and hold it here
Tired as I get, face stained with tears
I’ll stand with this butterfly in my hand
And wait for my love to come back again
But come back I feel he will not
This note and this butterfly, they are all I’ve got

Little glass butterfly sitting in my hand
The heaviest burden of all the land
All I have left of my love who has gone
Fighting in battles, so tired and worn
I fight my own battle waiting for him
Though I know his chances are terribly slim

This little note burns a hole in my pocket
But I still cannot bring my eyes to look upon it
I should have known loving him would hurt
Silly girl that I am, always following my heart
My heart is now not mine to keep
He has it with him and I can’t sleep
Long nights alone without him there
I’ve just got this little glass butterfly sitting in my hand

Author's Note

Butterflies have become a favorite symbol of mine, and today when my friend gave me a glass butterfly necklace as an early Christmas gift I couldn't get this idea out of my head. Hope you like it, comments and critique always welcome <3

Reviews

[Jasmine]

I'm re-reading this now, after storing it safely away in my library for months. I'm glad I did, but perhaps, now, I think it could use a litle "tidying up". The idea encapsulated in the poem is wonderful, but you could make some of the lines less clumsy. I don't want to edit it for you, though. Maybe just have a re-read yourself. Just my humble opinion. Still a beautiful poem.

[LittleGlassWings]

I love how the little glass butterfly ties into all the emotion. Great write. :)

[SoulofManyFaces]

This is a beautiful poem, almost fairytale like...reminds me
of Alice in Wonderland, and all the things she did shall see.
I love the flow, and how the words rhymed very well
together. Great Write!

[Aekmy]

This is amazing! I love the concept of the poem. It could definetly become a song. That's how I read it as.

Great great job. (:

[Jasmine]

this is so unlike some of the generic attempts at love poetry you see in WC. this one truly gripped me, because it has meaning, sensitivity towards the subject and a great narrative. you've put some of yourself into this, and you identify with the character in the poem so well, conveying their feelings beautifully...i love this. whilst a few of the words used are a little awkward, the general flow and vocab is great...this is a new favourite...really well done and keep it up!! :)
(sorry about the essay of a review! and if you have time, please read some of mine. thank you.)

[Samuel Dickens]

I've got to tell you, I don't read very many poems that push the right buttons and chime the right chords to touch me the way this has. Maybe because I went away to war one time, or maybe because I attach much sentimental value to objects like that glass butterfly, but I really like this. It's a gem. Be very proud of it, Howl.