Dance of the Butterfly Spirits : Victoria's Liberation
For too long we raced towards emptiness
Thinking curves and skinniness the only fairness
Judging each other for not fitting the role
They carved for us, making each other feel small
When we could have been lifting each other up
Celebrating our sisterhood, each of us enough
But we healed, and we're healing, shedding old notions
Of who we must be to deserve love and promotions
Not realizing before that we already were
Worthy and glorious, perfect as we occurred
We just had to silence the voices that drowned
Our own knowing of truth, wanting to confound
Our inner light, convincing us we were less
Unless we poured ourselves into some molded dress
That didn't fit right and slowly squeezed breath
Dimming our fire, till we faded to death
Of who we really were, now ghosts in a shell
But no more sisters! We're rewriting this spell
With new words that cherish, uplift and hold near
Our sisters beside us, helping them feel less fear
And more hope - that they have everything within
To blossom fully into who they wished to have been
Had they not believed the toxic untruths
That kept them from shining at their highest, like you do
For each of you shimmers with your own inner grace
That flows freely when you've found sacred space
Within, where you nurture your spirit with care
And cast off the voices that falsely declare
You're too much this, too little that, never enough
Those shaming untruths now you can rebuff
And stand tall in who you are, truth radiant
Loving yourself without shame, head unrepentant
For taking up space and letting gifts unfurl
You're leading us to a new world for every girl
Where beauty means being most fully yourself
Where spirits shine bright and each flaw seen as wealth
Of who we uniquely are, perfect in our way
Our differences making the world more fey
When we learn to cherish each spirit that dwells here
And honor their journey, holding them dear
We lift up each other, brighter we beam
Sisterhood rising, forward we stream
Towards new lands where every woman and girl
Knows her worth lies deep in her soul
Not in her beauty or form society seeks
But wild and untamed, she now rises to speak
Her truth without shrinking or quieting her voice
She sings fully her song and in that finds her joy
For too long they told us we were too much this way
Too loud or too soft, too big and too tiny
Comparisons became daggers, undermining our faith
In our own brand of beauty, our own kind of grace
But now we join hands and rewrite the old myths
Teaching instead how each woman glows, shifts
Changes and deepens, ever unfolding anew
And all these versions shine bright, it's true
We celebrate now each stage, transition, bend in the road
Knowing it's leading us to grow
Into who we're meant to be, on our own sacred thread
Twisting and turning wherever it's lead
Without shame now we walk, souls blazing in light
Loving ourselves fully, standing upright
The days now before us fill me with eagerness
To nurture potentials for which we seemed hopeless
But now will unfurl like petals opening from bud
As we trust and have faith in our own womanhood
Sisters, I see you, light shimmering through
None of the hateful things they said were true
You're worthy and sacred exactly as is
Open your eyes, see your beauty, now sister, please
Let their voices fade as you turn within now
Find your song, goddess, your spirit allow
To rise up and and lead you forth, standing tall
This is your time to embrace and embody your all
Every gift, every part of you longing to thrive
Needs only your love now to fully come alive
And shine bright as you walk nobly, light beaming
Your steps blessed, your heart here fully gleaming
In this life, right now, you have all that you need
To allow the real you to blossom and lead
Cast off doubt, ignore the voices that shame you for being
Too much or too little, your light here not seen
Rise up from their ashes blessed one, walk free
Loving YOU now the path to true beauty
So Victoria, keep your secret
No more do we heed or forfeit
Our own truths to fit the dollhouse you sold
We're breaking free, our own stories unfolding
Of what women can do when we cast off shame
And limiting beliefs, no longer the same
But awakened now to our gifts and inner lights
Raising each other up so we all shine bright
No more racing towards emptiness
Or shrinking ourselves, contorting, compressing
To fit in their boxes, wrapped up like a gift
Adorned with self-loathing and myths
That we're too flawed, too shapeless, too wild
Sisters, can't you see it's all been a vile
Attempt to dim our lights, keep us contained?
But no more will we feel fettered, chained
To their toxic definitions of beauty and grace
Measuring only dimensions, forgetting our face
Holds endless expressions sharing our soul's song
Let's help each other to sing fully, stand tall, be strong
In who WE are, our own rhythms and rhymes
Swaying, flowing, blossoming in our own times
Dear sisters, I see now so clearly we were
Perfect all along, needing to blur
Nothing, change nothing, add on no disguise
Our beauty emerges when we can look at ourselves and not apologize
For who we uniquely are, but celebrate this
Knowing we emerge most graceful when most fully ourselves we honor and live
We are butterfly beings, meant to be free
Not chained to their stories, caged perpetually
Believing their lies that we were too flawed, unsightly
Our spirits dimmed to mere flickers, shining too slightly
But healed now and whole, we take back our light
Rise up and blaze brightly, our inner truth burning so bright
That all outdated constraints turn to dust
We lead now, we trailblaze, we rise because we must
Show new generations of girls waiting within
The incredible woman alive in their skin
Longing to emerge but unsure if she'll be
Celebrated or shamed for daring to be free
We call to her, sing to her softly- awaken, come out
This now is your time to be bold, walk about
In your fullness and beauty, head held high
Worthy and radiant, touching the sky
With hands open and graceful, ready to catch
Starlight and wisdom, no need to snatch
validation from outside, when you are the source
Of beauty untamed, and celestial force
Waiting to guide you to lands unseen before
Where our spirits can play, learn, create and explore
Beyond all confines and shells placed around
The truth of our wonder, seeking to ground
Our otherworldly songs into mundane things
We now spread our wings and let our souls ring
True harmonies awakened when we find the space
Within, in between breaths, to nurture our grace
And bloom from a bud into fullest flower
Shining, wide open, knowing our power
Was in being tender, sensitive, feeling oh so much
The world now needs our wisdom, our gentle healing touch
To bind up the wounds, dry each tear
Spread hope where they've nurtured fear
So Victoria dear, keep your secret
We hold the keys now, no need to forfeit
Our wholeness or dim our own beautiful light
We embrace ourselves now, bare and in broad sight
The poem is part of a full version found in the book “Homo Sapiens” Part Part I - XVIII, written by Mawphniang Napoleon. This book is part of the popular “Homo Sapiens” book series, which can be purchased online at various online bookstores, such as Amazon. The book is available for purchase for those who are interested in reading the complete version of the poem. Remember to get all the books from the “Homo Sapiens” series, as well as other books by the same author. So, don’t hesitate and get a copy today from one of the many online bookstores. Khublei Shihajar Nguh, (Dhanewad )(Thank you )
About this poem
This poem beautifully captures the journey of self-discovery and empowerment, highlighting the struggles of conforming to societal expectations and the liberation found in embracing individuality. It celebrates the strength of sisterhood, urging women to reject imposed standards and revel in their unique, radiant selves. The verses echo a powerful message of self-love, resilience, and the collective ascent of women towards authenticity and freedom.
Written on June 28, 2021
Submitted by Mawphniang.Napoleon on November 10, 2023
Modified by Mawphniang.Napoleon on November 12, 2023
- 7:29 min read
- 1 View
Quick analysis:
Scheme | Text too long |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic hexameter |
Characters | 7,752 |
Words | 1,477 |
Stanzas | 48 |
Stanza Lengths | 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 2, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 2, 4, 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1 |
Translation
Find a translation for this poem in other languages:
Select another language:
- - Select -
- 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
- 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
- Español (Spanish)
- Esperanto (Esperanto)
- 日本語 (Japanese)
- Português (Portuguese)
- Deutsch (German)
- العربية (Arabic)
- Français (French)
- Русский (Russian)
- ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
- 한국어 (Korean)
- עברית (Hebrew)
- Gaeilge (Irish)
- Українська (Ukrainian)
- اردو (Urdu)
- Magyar (Hungarian)
- मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
- Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Italiano (Italian)
- தமிழ் (Tamil)
- Türkçe (Turkish)
- తెలుగు (Telugu)
- ภาษาไทย (Thai)
- Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
- Čeština (Czech)
- Polski (Polish)
- Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
- Românește (Romanian)
- Nederlands (Dutch)
- Ελληνικά (Greek)
- Latinum (Latin)
- Svenska (Swedish)
- Dansk (Danish)
- Suomi (Finnish)
- فارسی (Persian)
- ייִדיש (Yiddish)
- հայերեն (Armenian)
- Norsk (Norwegian)
- English (English)
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Dance of the Butterfly Spirits : Victoria's Liberation" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/173488/dance-of-the-butterfly-spirits-:-victoria's-liberation>.
Discuss the poem Dance of the Butterfly Spirits : Victoria's Liberation with the community...
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In