la la land

rusted door opened to butterflies and bones
vines paint the walls, pallid mushrooms
photos of you and i from that december
dust collected on your violin and the dying ember

hums from the kitchen, smell of boiling tea
this the land where your heart gets to live
my kisses brushing you where your cat scraped
me on the counter, you in my shirt- enamored

let's bake bread, humming your favourite tune
let's mold a pot, wet hands glued together
let's go on a drive, our laughs intertwined
let's make a home, stitching our hearts together

the walls still murmur the words i never spoke
if i did, perhaps my hollow heart would've echoed
maybe then this wouldn't be a house but a home
a home where you wouldn't be a lingering thought but vows engraved in my bones

Author's Note

This poem came from a thought i had. If years later, i could open a door that'd lead me to a world where i live the road not taken, the life where i had the courage to say words I don't have in this life..Then this would be my lala land, the unlived life behind closed doors.

Reviews

[Ayesha Faiz]

This is stunning. It feels like stepping into a memory that’s half dream, half ghost. There’s this soft sadness woven through the warmth like love never fully lost, just... left behind in the quiet corners of a house. The imagery? Absolutely cinematic. “Rusted door opened to butterflies and bones” ... that line alone feels like the opening scene of a slow, nostalgic anime. Something like Your Name or A Silent Voice, but with the bittersweet softness of Violet Evergarden. The whole piece gives me Studio Ghibli vibes too! The kind where even the silence has meaning, where every cup of tea or hanging photo tells a story. It’s romantic, aching, and a little magical. You managed to write something that feels like watching the last episode of a love story that almost was, beautiful. I really really enjoyed reading this! Thanks for sharing...

[August]

Ah thank you dear, your words are kind and i really appreciate it.. and omg I've watched your name, silent voice and violet evergarden too! I was checking out your poems and I'll review them soon..

[Ayesha Faiz]

I'd appreciate that. Thanks alot.

[redd Brick Keshner]

The last stanza brings it all together quite powerfully... perhaps the walls of our unspoken thoughts are our poems - now untethered and taking a life of their own. 🙏🏻🕊️

[August]

That's a beautiful way to put it.. thank you..

[redd Brick Keshner]

I would like to think it has a certain beauty and feel to it. Most welcome 🙏🏻🕊️

[Saumya]

Why are the most beautiful moments left only to be felt and imagined in the heart, I wonder!?
Maybe, it is hence sometimes an artist prefer fantasties more beautiful than reality😊

Comming back to your poem, you've painted a beautiful vivid picture of 'togetherness' through your words...The imagery used, conveys a beautiful message throughout.

I somehow love the ending of your poem, more than the opening, because it is simple yet strong....It speaks of 'longing' in a very subtle tone ...viz terrific!😊
I really hope , this 'La La Land' of yours turn into your real world of dreams someday...More power to you, girl!

Happy Writing :)

[August]

Thank you Saumya..

[Saumya]

You're welcome:)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Oh I know these regrets...what ifs....life could have taken a completely different path if had thought of it back then....but I needed to grow up...then it is often too late.
Great last line...really like your work...Next to last stanza has excellent rhythm to further the thought in it.
Great use of it there.
nicely done poem.
j.

[August]

Thank you sir! Your views mean a lot..

[.]

I think this is my favorite from you. Words are carefully chosen, and you used them in the best way. To be honest, this is the kinda poems I want to write. Your poems has a candy taste somehow, yk what I mean? I adore. Seriously.

GIRL YOU ARE SO GOOD❤️ I rarely think to someone else's Poem that "I should've wrote that" and this is definitely one of them.

[August]

Thank you girl..you really are spoiling me.. it makes me so happy hearing this from a poet like you..