Simply Introverted

She fans silken petals,
the softest of shells,
not to be coy, just discreetly
distancing herself,

comfortable cocooned,
guilty of pretense,
privacy preferred
over others’ presence,

never unfriendliness,
just not social;
passions and interests
captivate most when alone.

Tending to her own tendrils,
internal biodome, 
nirvana nurtured,
nature, home.

She shows the sides
she chooses;
do not assume
that’s all there is.

No longer fear-restrained:
for the first time, 
she fully lives.

She fans silken petals,
simply introverted,
but continuously gifts
translucent colors and
serenity’s scent.

Poem and image ©LauraDenise

Release Me

How many stories
can there be in petals?


How long can I remain
unfound in the meadow?

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How can the same patch of land
be so ever-changing?


How many more potential bad days
can Mother Nature keep preventing?


How is it that I am the only one bearing witness
to so much magic on a daily basis?


How much longer can the toad’s eye keep me entranced?
And the intricate details in the anatomy of insects?


How much time has passed in that outside world
while I sit among the birds and squirrels?


How is it that nonhuman friends have become so underrated?
And introverts given such a hard time for avoiding socialization?


My colleagues are ordering their second round of drinks.
I confirm with the waiter, “Just water for me.”
Torturous are the hours I prove I’m not an island!
(What’s a few white lies to protect my safe-haven?)


A dragonfly stops by to wink at me,
shows off how he can fly away so freely into the breeze…


The conversation continues. I do not join in.
Release me back into the wild where I fit in…

Poem and images ©LauraDenise