Trapped Poem by Claudia Krizay

Today the sky is blue as far as I can see-
Except perhaps for one cloud
Dancing within the shadows of time.
Today I am locked inside of a metal box-
A metal box with one small hole
From which I can look out and see the sky-
But only the sky.
A gentle breeze blows through this hole, and
Slightly cools the fire searing inside of me-
That fire of anger that rages as would a forest bonfire,
That shall not be quenched.
Flames rise and smolder inside of my heart, for
There exists a small door inside of this box
To which I have the key to its lock-
A key that dangles from a string which hangs around my neck.
All I can see is the sky but I know inside of my thoughts
There are tall and beautiful trees outside,
Which that cool breeze rustles-
There is a trail where deer gracefully run wild,
Cardinals fly about and cicadas sing.
Then there are the enemies that follow me wherever I walk and
Stare into the pupils of my eyes and steal my thoughts away-and
When my rage scorches my heart and I threaten- they laugh and
Call me a lunatic. That key is dangling about my neck, and
My hand aches to grasp hold of it and to unlock the door to this metal cage
That confines me. I can feel the water in the creek that runs through the trail
Caressing my ankles as my spirit dances to the tune of the
Song played by the beating of the wings of the cicadas, while
My hair is blown about in the subtle wind-
Tears begin to fall as from hail in a summer storm-
I am trapped inside this empty metal cage-like box, as
I am confined inside the violent frenzy of my own fantasies-
Those fantasies that ensnare me and separate me from the world outside.
The world outside I have been told is a strikingly amazing place but inside of my mind
Demons lie to me and strangle me with the string that holds the key to reality
About my neck. I scream so loudly it blows the top off of the box, and
I find myself lying in the grass as thunder claps and the rain pours down upon me-
But I can still feel the fire burning my heart and my mind, as
I am doomed to be trapped inside this outrageous world of my thoughts-forever.