Where did all the butterflies go?

Suzanna Urueta

Suzanna Urueta

Age 18+ category | Spring into Poetry Contest 2025 | San José Public Library

Where did all the butterflies go? 
 
I used to get nervous and feel it all the way down into the pits of my stomach  
My heart and mind would race at the thought of seeing you  
My smile would light up the room as soon as you walk in it  
Where did all the butterflies go?  
At what point did just speaking your name leave a bitter taste in my mouth  
When did my soul decide your spirit was disrupting,  
and darkening the positive light inside of me  
How could you chase all my beautiful butterflies away?  
All I asked for was mutual love, and respect I wanted to see your smirk,  
and your eyes start to sparkle when I walked your way  
And to feel your acceptance,  
and a warm embrace that could last a lifetime  
Where did all the butterflies go?  
I've decided that I can curate my own butterflies,  
ones that won't be contained inside of me  
Ones that I'll share with the world so others can feel this love I have  
And if that's the lesson I was meant to learn,  
I guess I should be thanking you  
Maybe those butterflies were warning me that you weren't good for my soul  
Like an early alert system that all you would bring me was pain and sadness  
Where did all the butterflies go? 
 I can't keep chasing things that are meant to stay wild and free,  
including the butterflies that escaped me  
So I think I'll just flutter off with them until I'm ready to come back to reality  
Now I see that I should have left you, like my butterflies left me 
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