Earlier this year, my work was exhibited in a community display with visual artists. I had submitted a poem from my archives of unpublished work. Then I was called to create a poem in response to a painting. This proved more challenging, but the result was sweet and complete; you can view the entire exhibit: here.
My poetry practice is intermittent, dating back to 1994. I have one collection from 2018 available here. Since inclusion in the exhibit, I spent some time revisiting drafts of verse from earlier this year and some older still. I took out my tan, heavy paper bound journal and a set of colored pens to mark up and try to construct a finished poem. I think I more or less succeeded. And even crafted something new.
The poem that follows began in March.
It’s interesting that I wrote this about two months ago; weeks ago, our pastor began a series of sermons centering on the theme of the butterfly’s emergence. His words directed my interpretation that follows.
We all have this caterpillar form, this existence of survival. We all build cocoons around us in vice, in arrogance, in defiance. Many, self included, fail to emerge and remain in flight. If we consider a holy transformation and let divine love seep into our pores we can recognize the potential that awaits when we unfurl in darkness and attempt to fly in holiness. We can break free of the walls of our own making.
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