Metamorphosis
written by: Racheal Torty
“I am going to conquer the world,
Become a butterfly!”
Your excitement makes me giddy
Same as watching you twirl
I try to tell you, you are a butterfly already
Nkemjika,
I miss it all
Your excitement at seeing skyscrapers
The loud gasps that accompanied
You pulling my sleeves
“They are going to the sky.” You whispered
Your eyes, innocuous, absorbing the world
Reaching for my hands
“Let’s pray for the shawarma”
You would say out loud
Oblivious to the stares of others
That smile of yours always brightened after praying
You are not that person anymore
“I have grown.” You say
You barely glance at the tall buildings
You murmur your prayers and rarely eat shawarma
Your smiles are dimmer now
The wonder in your eyes closed
I keep wondering if you really conquered the world
Or became a caterpillar.
- Metamorphosis - July 12, 2026
- When Beauty is A Work of Art - April 30, 2022
