poetry – Page 2 – Wolverine Lily

Meant to Bloom

I was meant to bloom—
unfurl, sing, and shine, not
be tended or trimmed, not
molded for duty and possession.

I was meant to bloom, not
decorate an entropic cave, not
drizzle in vain someone’s emptiness
with the sweetness of my effervescent petals—
infusing their spoiled, sour strands.

Even in the drought,
I drank rainbows through my veins.
My tendrils breathed warmth into soil,
while the sky hid behind clumped clouds.
I stretched toward muffled sunlight.

I was meant to bloom.

And then it rained, not
to nourish or cleanse.
Poured.
Unstoppable—
the ground swelled,
my petals sagged,
roots dislodged,
my garden drenched to swamp.

Yet I stand, sturdy but hollow.
They nest in my shade,
leech my youth,
and — call it love.

Slowly,
quietly,
I sink.

Still—

Dreaming of butterflies,
even a wilt can reach the sun.
Single ray ignites its desire.

Butterflies will come
And I will bloom…
as I was always meant to.

Author’s Note:
Not everyone who stands tall is thriving.
Not every flower is there for you to pick.
For every time you bloomed in silence, offered too much, or were mistaken…
This one is personal. 🌸

Insatiable

Cage me with your limbs,
Nourish the flames of our desire.
Let me hold you so close—
Feel you—
Melt to mist in our seamless embrace.

Our breaths entwine,
Drenched in the sultry steam,
Until your body nourishes mine,
Subdue my scorching thirst for you—

Insatiable—

And release my spirit,
Like the heat shimmer rising from the sand,
Ascending beyond ethereal heights.
I surrender…

And when we fall back to earth,
Together—whole and bound,
As one.
Indivisible.

Author’s Note:
This piece may look familiar, but like passion itself, poetry evolves. I removed the unrefined version a while ago because it felt unfinished, incomplete. I let it fully breathe, then reshaped it—until it became what it was always meant to be. This is the latest version, more final. Though still… insatiable. 🙂

Incongruous

“This is wrong!” they shout.
“Don’t do it!”

I don’t want to think what’s right—
what’s right anymore?

I’ve been doing all the right things:
behaved right,
got the right degree,
married the right guy…

Still, I ended up in the wrong place—
or the wrong end
of the right place,
at most.

A precise blueprint,
yet wayward—
disarrayed,
veering off the ideal design.

I’m incomplete. Misaligned.

Isn’t that right?
For me—it’s wrong.

Why is it wrong?
I did all the right things?

Why then, amidst all these rights,
do I feel misplaced—
a lucky penny lost in a dry desert,
gleaming in the sun,
yet inconspicuous in the sand—
Blindly chasing paths
marked right or wrong.

Incongruous.

Why is it wrong,
doing what feels right?

I’m tempted to do what’s wrong—
forbidden,
There’s a thrill in rebellion,
a treasure awaiting discovery in the shadows.

But what if it’s not wrong?
And perhaps even right—
right for me.

So, if I do wrong things,
maybe at least
I’ll finally feel right.

Let’s do more wrong,
but do it right!

A New Year’s Spark

New beginning calls,
Dreams awaken, hearts ignite,
Will this spark yet flare?

Author’s Note:
As the New Year unfolds, a wave of fresh inspiration has washed over me, imprinting new ideas. This is my very first attempt at writing a Haiku (though I’m not sure I like it), and it feels like a way to capture my hopes and plans for a new beginning. I wish this spark will illuminate the dark path ahead of me in 2025.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

The Mirror of Trust

I stare into the mirror.
I see myself—those worried eyes I know so well.
“What do you fear?” I ask.
“I’m afraid to take this step,” she replies.
“Don’t. I’ll be with you holding your hand.”

She doesn’t trust me but begins to climb.
Step by slow step.
I watch her go up beyond my reach.
My legs tremble.
My heart pounds in my ears.
She reaches the highest highs,
I can barely see her.

“I’m scared,” she screams as she looks down.
“How will I get down?”
“Jump,” I encourage her.
“Impossible! I will die!”
“You won’t. I will catch you,” I assure.

She hesitates.
“I can’t! I’m terrified!” she cries.
“Just trust me,” I whisper.
“If you fall, I’ll fall… with you.”

Her quivering feet slide to the edge,
I catch my breath,
She plunges into the unknown.
First, like a rock tossed in the wind,
Then she unfolds her arms—
Delicate wings, unsure they will hold her,
Yet she spreads them wide in growing confidence,
As feathers grow from her skin.

I hint a smile and behold her glide,
A bird soaring on a gale.
I extend my arms into the air.
“What if I can’t do this?” I doubt myself.
Terror embraces me from behind.
“If you fail, I fail too,”
Her mutter echoes in my heart.

She lands within me,
I ripple like a drop cascading into a lake,
Peacefully blending into placid waters.

Was it her or me?
Who truly made it?

I stare into the mirror.
I see myself—those worried eyes I know so well.
“What do you fear?” she asks.
“I’m scared to take this step.”
“Don’t. I’ll be with you holding your hand,” she replies.

I climb with trembling legs.
She will catch me, she’ll find a way—
As I once did.
I’ll find my wings…
Just as she once found hers.

Little Chalky Feet

Her little feet with chalky dust,
Growing up too fast to last!
Sidewalk art with siblings’ cheer,
A special time my heart holds dear.

Amid each day’s relentless race,
These tiny toes print love I chase,
And memories carved to last forever,
Of joyful days we laughed together.

Author’s Note:
Some moments are just too precious to let fade, right? My youngest daughter’s chalky feet—capturing the fun and colors of a sunny afternoon in the park (before she turned 4.) I stumbled upon this photo and couldn’t let it go. It inspired this short poem and now lives here, safe and treasured. 🙂

Constellation of Unspoken Promises

A dreamy glimpse of you,
and the whole Universe disappears.
Irresistibly captivated;
I venture into the cosmos of your glowing eyes—
The only two stars left in the vast multiverse,
so dazzling;
so bright.

I dive into their stellar space…
Eclipsed in the moment,
I surrender to your orbit,
Lost,
like a silent asteroid in an endless cosmic sea.

Tangled in the gravity of your embrace,
Time slows,
a mystical clock suspends its hands.
Only a breath divides us.
I gravitate toward you,
like stardust drawn to light.
The magnetism of your heart
pulls me near—so near
my pounding heartbeat dances with yours,
a cosmic rhythm—
Two souls meeting the unknown.

Yet, you bring me closer,
and our breaths melt into one.

In the heat of supernova passion,
my eyes close;
like clouds veiling the sun,
awaiting the magic astral tick…
Our lips collide;
like two meteors in a vast galaxy,
Painting a new constellation of unspoken promises.

Law School Blues: Hustles, Hurdles… or Hilarity

*Dedicated to Law Students and Bar Exam Takers. You got this!! Good luck!*

Law school felt like battling a monstrous beast,
From day one: a torturous intellectual feast.
Cases and books—an oppressive digest,
The LSAT was just the appetizer for this relentless quest!

Many groaned, calling the LSAT a dread,
Unaware it was a preview of sleepless nights ahead.
Reading, briefing, monotonous lore,
Parties a myth! All fun’s out the door!

Free time vanished, hobbies took flight,
Gym and karate? All gone overnight!
Constantly seated, my chair-bound plight,
Gained weight! Out of shape! Now, isn’t that right?

No midterms to ease, just finals—so grand;
One exam to decide if you sink or stand!
Finishing 1L, stress rockets in flight,
A 3-hour horse race final in the dead of night.

Graded on a curve, it’s anyone’s game,
Score high, yet still, can endure the shame.
Classmates as rivals, friends now in jest,
Cutthroat and brutal; law school’s no rest.

Three years of torture, sleepless and grim,
Reading and writing till your eyesight dims.
Friends? What friends? They all disappeared!!
Only on Christmas, some family cheered.

Then there’s the BAR, oh man, what a “treat,”
Study till you fall off your seat!
California’s the worst—tough as can be.
Fail—and an attorney you may never be!

Money? You ask, was it worth all the pain?
Well, lawyers ain’t rolling in endless champagne!
Huge responsibility and liability too,
Makes you ponder: Was this the right thing to do?

But if law is your passion; your heart’s true delight,
Maybe—just maybe—it’s worth the long fight.
Yet, if you dream of something else instead,
Run far from law school, run fast, my friend!

Who Decided 5 AM Was a Good Idea?

The alarm clock screams: It’s 5:00 am!
Why must I wake so early again?
Eyes half-open, stumble out of bed,
Wonderful dreams still buzzing in my head.

Coffee’s brewing, but it feels too slow,
I’m up at dawn? That’s a cruel show!
I yawn so wide that I could swallow the moon,
Who decided to begin a day this soon?!

The world’s still asleep—quiet—missing morning thrill,
Getting out of bed is surely against my will.
But up I go, and greet the day with a beat,
Grateful for this life and all the chaos in it.

A Comedy of Errors in a Gym

I hit the gym, all geared up and ready to go,
With my favorite sneakers and usual glow.
But as I lift weights, trying to gain strength,
A dumbbell slips, despite my full-arm length.

Sweat pours down like a tropical rain,
As I struggle to bench press, feeling the strain.
The heavy barbell slides from the rack!
Landing on my face—wham!—and my eye turns black!

Treadmill running, I trip on my lace,
Flying off in an epic—yet not unusual clumsy race.
People around me can’t help but stare,
I just smile back, fixing my messy hair.

Yoga poses? Okay, I’ll give it a shot!
But, man, balancing’s harder than I thought!
Toppling over in a twisted mess,
I laugh it off, ’cause surely, I can’t impress.

Despite the chaos, the slips, and the falls,
I keep on going, giving it my all.
For every mistake, a story to share,
‘Cause gym adventures are beyond compare!

*Did I mention I’m clumsy? 😉 These past few months have been quite unfortunate, causing many injuries. But hey, I’m back at the gym, still accident-prone, and trying to get back into shape for the summer. Though, considering it’s the end of June, I don’t think I’ll get there! 😜 In reflection, I enjoy writing about it and laughing it off. I look kinda badass cool, don’t I?