STORY STARTER

Submitted by Margaret Sok

'I am not a butterfly, I am a moth.'

Write a story or poem based around this line.

I Am A Moth

I used to think I was a beautiful butterfly

Hanging there in it’s cocoon

I waited so long to come out and shine

Hoping it would happen soon


I had an image in my vision

A beautiful creature shining bright

Who never knew of indecision

And who always did what was right


But when I finally did come out

Ready to finally strike

I looked at myself with fear and doubt

For what I saw, I did not like


I expected a slender and streamlined body

And colours so bright they could only impress

Instead I was chunky and my shade rather muddy

I was covered in hair and I looked like a mess


I slept all day, couldn’t rest at night

My life seemed to lose all its meaning

I didn’t fit in, could not do anything right

The only thing I was good at was dreaming


I almost gave up, I nearly caved in

My only option I believed

But then came a light, a love from within

I sighed and felt so relieved


Yes I am chunky and life has been rough

All that you can see on my face

But I am so sturdy and I am robust

And I need to live at my own pace


So I changed my surroundings, rethought my own life

Reflected on purpose and needs

I’m not just existing for others’ delight

I’ll go where my guiding light leads




——————-

Note:


I am not the person I envisioned when I was eighteen. And thank god for that.

Comments 2

Wow! I really like the message in this poem. My favorite stanza was the one that ended with the line “for what I saw, I did not like”. I think it was the stanza that tied the prompt into the message, and the rhyming of strike and like was really smooth! The only thing I noticed that might need fixing was in the stanza that started with “I slept all day” in the second line loose should probably be spelled lose in this context, but other than that I didn’t notice anything amiss! Really good poem and message, I’ll be thinking about the strike/like stanza for a good long while! Much love <3

Thank you so much, it really means a lot!

I always have an urge to write loose instead of lose - it’s like my brain got it wrong one time and now it’s encoded in there so I often spell it loose first and then have to change it. And it’s funny how I can proofread several times and still not notice it. I really appreciate your comment though. Both pointing out the spelling but also your point about the third stanza - I was actually unsure of that specific rhyme when I wrote it so I means a lot that you like it <3