Linking this with The Tuesday Platform at Poets United, and Quadrille #13 at d’Verse.
Clipped wings
the walls are clear,
no chains are seen;
the wings are quick,
the mind is keen.
try to break free,
and rules seem lot;
only then we know
that we were caught.
allowed to think
we were stars;
in reality,
butterflies in a jar.
(© Vinay Leo R. @ I Rhyme Without Reason, 15th August 2016)
Vinay Leo R.
Poetry & writing are to me, a breath of fresh air in a life that is sometimes covered by the smoke of sorrow or self doubt. They also become the sweets I share to celebrate when life offers me a reason to. But most of all, they are to me, my life. For each word I write is a piece of my heart, a thought that just had to find its way into the world.
Oh, those last two stanzas got me. Choked me up, really.
So well done.
Yeah. They left a bit of heavy emotion on me too, De. Thank you.
We are so often lulled and comforted by those clear walls… Like the famous gilded cage almost.
I agree with you, Bjorn. We are so often comforted by the clear walls, that we tend to forget that they are there. 🙁
Many times it seems that way. We just have to break the jar and escape. We are only captive if we choose to be. Good thoughts in this. Why do I have to check the box to post comment?
We are only captive if we choose to be. Very wise thought 🙂 I like that. I hope that that’s the case too.
Without that checkbox, I’m overthrown by spam, sadly. My apologies, Kanzensakura.
Beautiful work. We forget our invisible walls are there much of the time.
(Freya recently posted…Dream catcher – dVerse Quadrille)
Yes. We forget. Sad that there should be walls imposed, but that’s the reality most of the time. Thanks, Freya.
Oh, I love that they think they’re stars in a jar. Lovely!
Oh. All are stars. Some choose to twinkle happily within it. Some choose to try and break of it. Thanks, Misky.
Those last two stanzas, damn Leo. I just wanted to take that jar, unscrew the lid and then smash it.
Yeah. But no one really knows where the glass is to hold it. Not till one tries to break free of it. Thanks, Raivenne.
And here I thought we were free to flit about wherever we wanted. That’s a great unveiling at the end
(Walter Marks recently posted…Pandora’s Jar)
It seems that way more often than not, Walter. But then we aren’t restricted till we test some unsaid boundaries.
Love the ending, the twist to the “sense of freedom” in a jar! Thanks of joining us Leo!
(Grace recently posted…Jar)
Thank you for the platform, and for the kind words of appreciation, Grace. 🙂
We only know that we’re captive when we try to make our escape…very clever, Vinay.
Yes actually! Not an escape. If we don’t know we’re captive, it’s just a journey born from curiosity. Thank you, Gayle.
I love the rhyming flow in this piece. Great picture.
I am glad that the rhyme appealed to you, Maria. 🙂
Heartfelt, thank you
Thank you, Pleasant Street.
I love the idea of stars in a jar. Glass walls doesn’t make it less a prison.
Thank you, Sara. Very true. It’s a prison either way, if you look at it from a deeper perspective.
Beautiful piece! <3
Thank you, Josslyn. 🙂
and we go on about life as it is, until someone reminds us………….
Yes. We do do that, Vandana.
The moment we forget that the walls of a cage, regardless of how pretty they might be, always make a prison… that’s the moment we lose our freedom and ourselves. Those last two stanza say it so well.
(Magaly Guerrero recently posted…He Thrills Me Much Better)
Yes. In some cases, they are transparent, so we want the freedom to go past them and find the world! But we lose patience when we are restricted by the glass wall rules! Thank you, Magaly.
Those last four lines seal the deal.
Thank you very much, Kerry.
I’m with De on this one!
Thanks, Kim.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
In one way or another, we need to find a way to get through these unseen walls.
Yes. It is needed. At times, and at places, that well seems vulnerable. But more often than not, they hold their own. makes it difficult. 🙁 Thank you, Maria.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
a poem with the lightest of touch thus those final lines that really jar
I am glad that the lightest of touches on the ending verse made its mark. Thank you, Laura.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
Oh yes, it seems at times we are bound with invisible chains which hold us back and prevent us from accomplishing our dreams and goals. We must at length strive and break free 🙂 Beautifully penned.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
Exactly. That’s the point, Sanaa. Those chains that are there shouldn’t matter, but they do. 🙁 Sigh. Thank you. Hopefully, one day, that breaking free will happen.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
Superb Vinay!
The last few lines struck like a blow.
‘allowed to tink we were stars
in reality butterflies in a jar’
(Subha Rajagopal recently posted…Sadness)
Glad that you liked the verse and the last few lines. Thanks, Subha.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
Oh how I wish we were stars! Love the images you give, even when the last is heartbreaking..thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked the images and the last one too. Thanks, Stacie.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
This is beautiful. We build so many personal walls ourselves with self doubt, self consciousness and fear. Add to this the walls of society that prevent us from breaking from the norm, the trends and expectations. We could learn a thing or two from those butterflies.
the society has too many rules, actually. Very sad to see some of it add to the walls of our own doubts. Thanks, Mish.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
Whoa, powerful contrast, “allowed to think we were stars; in reality, butterflies in a jar.” This really hits home, Leo.
(Sherry Blue Sky recently posted…Talmud Angels)
That was the intent. Thank you, Sherry Blue Sky.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
Whoa, such a powerful contrast, “allowed to think we were stars; in reality butterflies in a jar.” That really hits home, Leo.
(Sherry Blue Sky recently posted…Talmud Angels)
That was the intent. Thank you, Sherry Blue Sky. 🙂
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
this strikes a sad note for me, however beautiful those wings, they are trapped
much love…
It was a sad note, so it struck right, Gillena. Thanks.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
I enjoyed this from start to finish such a lovely flow of words. The image of the butterflies in the jar at the end really touched me in that place inside. Butterflies are meant to be free to fly.
(Truedessa recently posted…A World Ajar)
Yes. As are we, but we’re restricted by so many rules that are imposed at the crucial moment. Thank you very much, Truedessa.
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
Oh my, those last lines got me. Such a beautiful piece.
Thanks a lot, Susie. Glad that you felt it was beautiful. 🙂
(Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Unopened jars)
Some days I feel pinned to a cork board.
(J Cosmo Newbery recently posted…881 – Roast Lemmings)
Today felt like such a day, Cosmo.
Leo, I am somewhat new to your blog. The last two stanzas, what a perspective! Reminds me of how small I am in the midst of creation, and how limited my scope when compared to the Divine. You have that Quadrille form down! Thanks, Amy
That’s a different perspective to what I had when writing the poem. 🙂 Goes to show how a few words can mean something totally different to one person.
Thank you so much, Amy.
Nicely succinct.
Thanks, Rosemary!
Those last lines hit like a ton of bricks. So light, so lovely…and then, thunk. Well done, and a bit jarring.
=)
(Sue Anderson recently posted…Keeping a Lid on It)
Yes. That was the intention, Sue. Thank you.
Interesting, that we were ALLOWED to think we were stars. Why would we wait for permission? We learn that from a very early age and it is hard to shake. Also I like that quadrille, must try one. 🙂
It’s not about permission, perhaps. 🙂 When we’re not told of restrictions till the last moment, we feel we are stars. Then just as we’re about to shine, the rules are brought in. Sadly. Quadrille is just 44 word poetry. 🙂 Do try, Marian. It’s fun!
and in this instance, its good to open that lid 😀
I really like your poetry Leo! 😀
(Pixie recently posted…Anyone around? *peeks out*)
Yes. 🙂 It’s good to open the lid. But society doesn’t allow always. Thanks, Pixie.
Oh. That’s such a sad reality for so many of us. Our dreams come to an abrupt end when the sunlight in the form of harsh reality blinds us.
Yeah, Ishi. Reality of rules that come at the moment we are ready to fly. 🙁