Metamorphosis

 

 My mom would always tell me that this life happens in stages,  

“Em you shouldn’t get caught up because a book has many pages” 

But I don’t know what to do and I always feel so lost 

So I imagine breaking free but it all comes at a cost 

 

I remember my childhood and the pain that I endured 

Tears build up in my eyes and my vision is blurred 

My lungs couldn’t catch up but I still wanted to run 

To act like I was normal and to finally have some fun 

 

But soon enough I knew that my reality had to hit 

And shed light on the sickness I tried so hard to omit 

Despite my hardest efforts they all still managed to say: 

“I don’t want to be your friend, you’re not fast enough to play” 

 

And so I was obliged to grow up on my own  

I made up a new world and I built its walls of stone 

To feign that I had changed became my one and only task 

So throughout my adolescence, I began to wear a mask 

 

I told myself not to worry because this phase was temporary 

But the shell that I concocted became my only sanctuary 

And in my darkest moments, I would go into this home  

Where I’d manage to forget that I was always so alone 

 

And now I’m up at night and I’m staring at the moon,  

I sit there and I wonder “will I change anytime soon?”  

I’ve been in this cocoon for as long as I can remember 

And it’s gotten way too dark, I just want to surrender 

 

Inside this encasement, I’m tossing and I’m turning  

I just want to break free, my insides are burning 

But I sit there forever and, in my head, it rings 

“I wish I could love myself, but I can’t see my wings”  

 

For that inner strength, I search near and far 

I pray for the day that I feel like a star  

And then it just hits,  

Like lightning, it splits 

The world must get ready for the rays I omit 

 

The next thing I know, I slide out like butter  

My wings are just dancing, they’re starting to flutter 

I feel the evolvement, but I’m accustomed to think 

“What’s missing? What’s missing?” I’m just on the brink 

I stop in frustration and my excitement starts to dwindle 

Then my guardian angel comes and she starts to rekindle: 

 

“You’ve worked way too hard to move backward now  

I see how far you’ve come and I must take a bow 

My darling, my darling you’ve more than recovered, 

You grew some new wings, you are multicolored 

So next time you’re low and feel down in a ditch  

Remember all I’ve taught you and just flip the switch” 

 

With all faith restored, I now feel it within 

The freedom I longed for and once thought was a sin 

I’m no longer afraid because mama doesn’t lie 

So I lift off of the branch and I just start to fly. 

-Emely Rodriguez