A Caterpillar

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.