Butterflies in my hair,
butterflies in my head,
thoughts born to take flight.
In a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco,
I thought of you.
Tables in booths with curtains drawn,
in my mind like confessionals at church,
the soul waiting absolution.
The soul delights as it rises
through green fields of forgiveness.
A small cubicle,
with an unspoken promise.
You spill your soul hoping for a new slate,
a new day.
All of us sinners,
with our poison of choice,
our path muddy,
on our journey.
Sins fester inside,
imprisoned in our being.
We bury them without allowing
them wings to fly,
as we watch our dreams die,
leaving them in a bottomless
ocean of pain.
Please join us here http://dversepoets.com/ where we share our thoughts and our hearts.
Oh, how poignant Ayala. How sensitively, and beautifully this is written.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary. I appreciate it.
DeleteYeah they build up leaving us in a hole when we should let them stroll.
ReplyDeleteThe sins?
DeleteThe first five lines of this are my favorite. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dana. :)
Deletetight emotions and images in this ayala..the small cubicle, muddy path, sins festering inside...forgiving is not easy but brings so much freedom..for those we forgive and ourselves as well...funny that you mention san francisco...will be in cali soon and thought all day today if i should make the trip to frisco as well...maybe this was a sign...smiles
ReplyDeleteYou should go...I just love San Francisco..so full of life.
Deletei will...just for a weekend but...think i fell in love with the city before i even got there...smiles...happy saturday to you ayala
DeleteHappy Saturday. So happy you will go..you will love it!
DeleteI like the hope for the new slate...foregiveness is a tough choice, both in giving and receiving ~
ReplyDeleteThank you, Grace.
Deletesmiles...thank goodness for forgiveness and grace....for we have all been there....one big thing is learning to fogive ourselves as well....
ReplyDeleteWe have all been there...true. :)
Deleteforgiveness is one of the toughest things in life, you have mapped out why just beautifully here.
ReplyDeleteallowing them wings to fly, yes. that is the key.
Thank you, Kelly. Sometimes forgiving others is easier than forgiving ourselves.
DeleteOh, how this beauty of a poem resonates with me! So hard to forgive...but then first we must forgive ourselves if we are to forgive others and move on. Wonderful write, A!
ReplyDeleteTrue, Jackie...thank you.
DeleteOuch, but such a beautiful poem, stinging with beauty and truth.
ReplyDeleteYes, we are all sinners but, that is why we also have forgiveness too. As Brian says, the one thing we sometimes tend to forget to do, is to forgive ourselves. I love all of this Ayala. I read recently (if you believe in these things) that right up until the moment of death, if we ask to be forgiven and repent for our sins, we can be. Who knows. I love all of this Ayala. I want to pick out a favourite line but, it's all so lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bren....who knows....good to forgive others and forgive ourselves.
DeleteGreen fields of forgiveness! This is lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jenny.
Deletethose butterflies try to take flight but perhaps feel it's not their right to live those dreams - but yet there is hope and promise here - that they will fly - yet - and soar - xxx lovely Ayala - Lib
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lib. xx
DeleteYes, sins DO fester inside. I like the setting of this piece as well as its honesty.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eric.
DeleteThis is definitely a heartfelt poem. It is really hard sometimes, though I do really believe that God gives us as many new slates as we need.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary. I would like to believe that.
DeleteI love the idea of giving "sins a pair of wings." Why should they be sentenced to a life of repression? There must be some beauty in allowing people to see what we consider ugly or shameful.
ReplyDeleteYes..there is a beauty in allowing people see the ugly and shameful.
DeleteSins fester inside -- oh yes, and then those wings don't work at all.
ReplyDeleteForgiveness is such a freeing act... just like a butterfly. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laurie.
DeleteSan Francisco holds a special place in my heart - you carried me there on the wings of this lovely poem, thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad. I love it there too.
DeleteBeautiful writing. I really love the imagery.
ReplyDeleteThank you, MZ.
DeleteAs long as we can forgive ourselves, our slate will be clean...an added bonus if others do as well. This is beautiful, Ayala!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gayle.
DeleteI like the rhythm of this verse. My favorite line is "You spill your soul hoping for a new slate."
ReplyDeleteWell done Ayala.
Thank you, Rudri.
DeleteI love the alignment of restaurant booths and confessionals.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Colleen.
Deletegood work
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=
> < } } ( ° >
Thank you, Cloudia.
DeleteNot so easy to let the heaviness go. Very thoughtful and provocative poem. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Steve.
DeleteOh dear - the butterflies try to rise but hard in so much wet and weight. Know how this feels and somehow very appropriate for SF. k.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karin.
DeleteBeautifully powerful and poignant.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tony.
Deletedo like the wings to fly...
ReplyDeletedo like the wings to fly...
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteWow!! What a wonderful piece!! The other day, at the store, as I opened the door of my car, and proceeded to get out, a beautiful red dragonfly, flew into my car. I tried my best to get him out, and "save" him. Later as I was paying at the cashier, he flew out of my hair. It was amazing...of course I hated to leave him in the store, but had to realize there was nothing I could do. Somehow he seems to be entwined in your piece.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Annell. Love the story of your red dragonfly :)
DeleteMuddy paths make for good poetry. Nice!~
ReplyDeleteTrue. Thank you :)
DeleteWow, Ayala! I really feel this poem. Especially these bits: "The soul delights as it rises through green fields of forgiveness" and "Sins fester inside, imprisoned in our being. We bury them without allowing them wings to fly". Well penned.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stephen. I love those lines too.
DeleteI like the transferences in this poem - enclosures of all kinds - limiting freedom, trapping the malevolent, prevent its escape, preventing the light from entering thus stopping illumination and enlightenment. Powerful piece!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gay. I appreciate your reflection.
DeleteAmazing all the nuances you incorporated in here about forgiveness - the benefit of confession (not necessarily a religious act), the need to forgive ourselves, the sadness in trapping our 'sins' within us. Very nicely done. I like the depth in this.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Myrna. There is a sadness in trapping the sins within us.
DeleteI agree with zouxzoux, Ayala. Your poem sings the sentiments of life.
ReplyDeletePamela
Thank you, Pam. :)
Deletebeautifully inspiring, Ayala. and I love the pic of your big, brown-eyed lab. what a loving face!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane. Her love is unconditional . :)
DeleteWe bind that which would give us freedom....I think we have all sat in this pain. Beautiful piece!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susie. You are right we have all sat in this pain.
DeleteMany times I have poured my heart and soul out to a friend while sitting in a booth in a restaurant. What a great description. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jenna. A friend like that is a blessing.
DeleteSo stunning. What a great metaphor.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Victoria.
DeleteMy thoughts and poems too begin as butterflies that I must wrangle!
ReplyDeleteWe all need an outlet for our worries... our sins... our regrets and so forth. Whether that be in a booth or church confessional, we should let them out so we may be free of them.
True...when we let them out..we can be free.
DeleteI love this, Ayala! I was stuck in unforgiveness several years ago until it hit me one day that we all need it at one time in our lives. Though the offenses vary, the sentiment is the same. We all need to be forgiven at one point or another. This is a favorite :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori. Sometimes it's not easy to forgive but when we don't we hurt ourselves.
Deletei wouldn't mind being free to fly like a butterfly...but sometimes it just seems easier to sink into the bottomless ocean of pain.
ReplyDeleteLovely Poem!
True...sometimes it is easier to sink into the bottomless ocean of pain.
DeleteI don't think anyone lives a life without their share of would have, could have, should haves. Forgiveness of self is vital even if never approached with the other person. Sometimes, that is impossible.
ReplyDeleteWell written. It drew me in as though you knew my thoughts. Thank you.
Thank you, Beth. We all have our demons that translate into one thing or another....
Deletelooking back we might wish to change things, but then who would we be? well written and thought provoking!
ReplyDelete♥
I would not change a thing. Thank you.
Deletevery strong piece. Love how the two sides of the piece mesh together, yet each holding on to it's own personality if you will. All of Us Sinners down, just loved how those lines worked. Great read. thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you, Fred. I appreciate it.
DeleteLovely reminder, there is no progression without forgiveness. I love the image of movement in this piece, from the butterflies and the thoughts that take flight and the soul rising and the wings to fly. Beautiful. :)
ReplyDeletelove this, ayala; the equating of the confessional with the chinese restaurant is brilliant, and each to his own poison of choice...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joanna.
DeleteLovely Ayala, "You spill your soul hoping for a new slate" that resonates so much and I love your "green fields of forgiveness".
ReplyDeleteSitting alone in a Chinese restaurant brought confessional back into memory, amazing! Realities come back at odd places! Nicely ayala!
ReplyDeleteHank
Thank you, Hank.
DeleteAmazing! Beautifully written and rife with meaning. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rachel :)
Deleteyou are an amazing writer!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ashok. You are kind.
DeleteThe description of the Chinese restaurant/your thoughts while there, strikes strong and deep in this piece -
ReplyDeleteIn a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco,
I thought of you.
Tables in booths with curtains drawn,
in my mind like confessionals at church, >> these two lines are superb
Thank you, Luke. Happy you enjoyed it. :)
Deletelove the connection of sins and burying then to dreams dying.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lauren.
Deletelovely poetry talented for sure, thanks so much for visiting my blog
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rebecca.
Deleteand later we know that the pain has brought us experience, even some satisfaction of having lived through it
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu,
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=
> < } } ( ° >
So true !
DeleteWhoa, Ayala, I felt this one in my gut. This line hit me especially hard: "Tables in booths with curtains drawn,
ReplyDeletein my mind like confessionals at church."
Always a pleasure to read your poetry. xo
Thank you, Kristen. xoxo
DeleteSo evocative. Beautiful opening lines, and you built so well on them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Chris. :)
DeleteWow! Look at all the comments you've received. This is evocative and brilliantly constructed. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, James.
DeleteWhere would we be without forgiveness and grace-- Such a beautiful write.
ReplyDeleteYou spill your soul hoping for a new slate,
a new day.
And with absolution, we get a new day--
Every new day is a good day....
DeleteIf we are to be forgiven, we must forgive others...including ourselves. Your words play like a symphony, moving us to reach deep inside and collect the best part of ourselves.
ReplyDeleteI cannot BELIEVE I read this yesterday and did not leave comment.
ReplyDeleteMY OPINION...WARNING!
Ayala, I do believe in forgiveness, we humans can, in a way, forgive one another. But when God forgives, HE also FORGETS. That's difficult foe some.
Also I have trouble with the "FORGIVE MYSELF" crowd. It too easy to forgive myself with nary a consequence. GOD forgives me if I am penitent. He alone "knows" the human heart.
(Last paragraph) I must be ready for God to forgive me, and be READY to accept that. Another human in this equation is also recommended, since it is SO easy to lie (fool) myself. And another human can counsel, and somehow it just FREES me to have it outted(?) with my sponsor. OF COURSE, the amends are also a requisite.
NOTE: I did not re-read your post, trying to remember. Sorry if sounding like a "teacher" to some. But are we not ALL teachers in some way or other?
Love and PEACE, Ayala!
Bye