Shadow of the Butterfly

Very inspirational. I could see everything quite clearly. Well done.

*mumbles quietly to herself* Well, sheesh, I wish I WERE a kiwi... but I'm just a lil ol' butterfly! I wish you well on finding more New Zealanders.

Greetings and salutations! I hope everyone is doing just ducky. I am called Shadow of the Butterfly, but you can call me Shadow for short. I mainly inhabit the Banquet Hall and have only recently started wandering around the other parts of our Mighty Pen. So, not quite sure how this dealio works, but I assume it's basically like a forum... you post notes to this, I post notes to other things, yes? Well, anyways, I truly DO hope all is well. Take care of yourselves! Regards,

The whispers of the dead Echo through the lips of the living We think we know what we don't And feign attempts of ideas giving Walking in footsteps predestined to stumble Spouting off on soap-boxes steep We trip and fall Grasping at straws to keep When black has turned white and inside is out New ideas may be forth-coming Though guised in self-doubt The whispers of the livng Can no longer be heard well At heaven's upheavel Turning Terra to Hell

This poem is about post-partum depression. I, unfortunately, am going through this right now. I'm getting help though, so I suppose you could say life is getting better. Lost in thoughts --not my own-- I sit and ponder Afraid and alone Am I worthy-- Of such a treat? A baby so good-- A baby so sweet? Suicide is selfish Suicide is weak Suicide is thought of Thoughts I cannot speak Homicide is even worse So ashamed, I cannot breathe Horrible mother I must be I think I must leave A therapist to talk to A friend to help me out Some drugs to calm my hormones I've chosen a safer route Babies are a blessing Of that, please have no doubt Don't be ashamed to get help When thoughts scream and shout Babies are a blessing Remember, this is true, But please remember, Moms are blessings, too

*fights back tears* That one struck home.

So sad. And true.

Oohhh.... very good indeed! I liked how you had two different people here... very well done.

Sitting on the floor With not much else to do I fidget with a deck of cards As I think of you Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle---cut One card down, and then another Until, at last, arrayed Black and red, clubs and spades Upon my mind they play Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle---cut Through the deck I wiffle fast Placing cards there and here Grinning as I say, "Winning at last," And whisper in the end, for the cards will hear I fear Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle---cut Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle---cut The cards whisper amongst themselves, determined Now to change Leading me to believe I win Until they re-arrange Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle---cut They change their faces un-checked and un-noticed Under piles concealed they conspire Moving and shifting, shifting and moving I start in confusion, as one pile grows higher Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle---cut Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle---gone

The warrior's heart beats strongly Beneath her wounded breast Each step a battle won Each breath has passed a test Invisible armour, plated Secure and well worn Deep rents of penetration Secure, but almost torn The demons she battles Come from within Wielding deceptive daggers Self-doubt they must win Lancing her spirit Bleeding her soul's heart She cries in anguish Her core torn apart And upon the agonized cries Of our fair warrior's plea A mighty angel descends Causing the demons to flee Gathering up his charge In arms garbed in white This angel cries in sympathy Each tear glistening light One, then another, tear touches down Healing the rift of pain This warrior gathers strength: There are other fights to gain

original Gazing through the looking glass Between the shimmering darkness I wipe away the fogged forgotten Trying to catch glimpses of what once was I can't filter through my scattered thoughts Ellusive at best, they defy me Paths untraveled stretch before me Beckoning me this way and that Undecided and lost, I shrug and trudge ahead Making my own path down the middle Uncaring of what lies ahead New Gazing through the looking glass Between the silvered hues I wipe away the fogged forgotten And finally see the new My road has been a long one-- That brings me to this place-- No more stumbling steps I traverse my world with grace Between the silvered hues I step Into this Lost Land Searching for you here To lend a helping hand Grace did save me from myself Can save you as well If only you'd leave this road Leading towards your personal Hell ack, and with that, this new mommy's brain juices went splat... help me out?

Dirt beneath her ragged nails Dark silver coloured, chipped Greasy hair hangs in eyes gone cloudy Black and blue her lips are ripped Vacant stares into the future Can't contain the past Abused, forlorn, forgotten This child shall not last Sighs escape her lips Where joyous cries use to ring Her life and hopes downtrodden No reasons left to sing In life there are many seasons Of that she had no doubt But for seasons of second chances Time has just run out

Worth Living For The only thing worth living for Often can't be found Our heart's a thousand pieces Fallen, on the ground Barely enough to sustain us Barely enough to live So many questions burning With no answers left to give The years went by so quickly The moments here are gone Our sun has clouded over The birds now have no song The only thing worth living for Is found if we could look Not by the cover But the pages of the book Read between the lines Know enough to care Watch as leaves blow by In the frost-filled air Know enough to care Love enough to give A thousand years of breathing And yet we do not live

Trudging through the city square Heavy armour upon my back I gaze upon the mirrored walls Of the towers standing tall around me Shimmering pools of liquid light Branch out in all directions My lady love lays submerged The breath of life here, but naught My silvered armour weighs me down I fear I cannot reach her in time Her long brown hair floats in waves Around her pale, young face Time has stolen my lady love And it is Time's presence I seek Wretched sobs steal my strength As a figure emerges from the depths Time is no friend to man Robed in depthless white He stoops to touch her lips Our eyes meet My vision blurred by tears With a small, sad smile, Time departs Leaving my lady My love Taking, in return My life

awesome