A caterpillar, weak, fragile, defenceless.
No comprehension of the world
and no sense of direction.
You took advantage.
Guided me with sugary lips that tasted bitter,
words of praise used as poison.
I cocooned, shielded myself
from your venomous onslaught.
To hide myself and cower from you
wasn’t enough; I needed to be free.
Your words backed me
into my own cage of darkness,
not even moonlight able
to grace my skin.
I am breaking
not because of you,
but because I need to be free.
The cocoon splits,
light guides the path.
Blue wings, grown from tears,
now glisten like diamonds
that carry me away
from the serpent’s tongue.