Butterfly

By Julie Makhoul

Emerged at last, wings of shattered glass, 

Years of crawling, a dark mirror passed, 

Now moonlight streams through mended pane

A fragile triumph, born from pain

A crystal prison, menacing and cold, 

Years spent captive, a story untold, 

Each shard a memory, sharp and keen, 

Now broken tree, in moonlight's fragile sheen.

Free at last, yet strength now fails, 

A heavy fall, through shadowed trails, 

Into a sleep, both deep and dread, 

Where peace and terror meet, instead.

Sleep's fragile hold, begins to break 

Shadows lengthen, for goodness sake, 

Anxiety stirs, a night owl's flight, 

The emptiness returns, a chilling night.

By Julie Makhoul