Audaciously Authentic

Posted on by Reena Saxena

I don’t stop to see
blood spilt along the way
wounds on pride and self-esteem
inflicted by rejection and criticism
by those who should have ceased to matter
long, long ago

the only change of direction
is needed in thought
destinations will align

I don’t stop to think
how the past impacts
present and future
as long as I can
repaint, repair, rewrite
rebuild a fortune
-and not wait
for serendipities

I am told the butterflies are real;
not alive
but they were alive at some point
before or after incarceration
behind this glass
to hang in living rooms
by those who claim
to immortalize beauty

I can’t sleep
as I feel
the butterflies growing into
ugly, bulbous proportions
in the dark
all their crushed ambitions
threaten to spill over
the complacence of enthusiasts
who build transparent graves
for dreams; and
audacious authenticity

it tells the stories of sick minds
who think living beings
are wall flowers
meant to be seen, not heard
because aeons ago, someone wrote
a rulebook
to suit their interest
in every corner, nook
and called it decorum

those who dare to tell them
they are frogs-in-the-well
from dark undergrounds
not aligned to sunlight
or expansive, blue skies
will soon be painted black
and expected to die of shame

-a shame transplanted
in the wrong place
-a guilt imposed on others
to free their own will
-a story rewritten
to overarch truth
-a punishment postponed
till it strikes their soul
-a curse that spreads
across centuries
across generations
across lifetimes

for they made an effort to deny
the birthright of freedom

RXC #288

OLN #342

16 thoughts on “Audaciously Authentic”

  1. Very powerful poem, Reena. Outburst justified. Just quoting’ the only change of direction
    is needed in thought
    destinations will align’. I loved every word of this poem.

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. A powerful outburst and so true:

    “it tells the stories of sick minds
    who think living beings
    are wall flowers
    meant to be seen, not heard
    because aeons ago, someone wrote
    a rulebook
    to suit their interest”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Love this especially; “I don’t stop to think how the past impacts present and future as long as I can repaint, repair, rewrite, rebuild a fortune.” ❤️❤️

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Pingback: Reena’s Xploration Challenge #289 – Reena Saxena

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