Melissa's poem

There is no place like here
There is no time like now
To break out of this cage
That I’ve constructed for myself

The lines twist and blur…

But the bars are too solid
I’ve built this cage too well
I can’t make them disappear –
These illusions, my shell

Talking in circles…

Left and right, fast-forward, rewind
Up and down, backward and forward
The words repeat themselves again and again
But I don’t know what they’re saying anymore

A series of contradictions…

I know there is no beginning
I know there is no end
It was all there before the time started
It will be there until after the time ends

This everlasting pain…

Sorrow comes and sorrow goes
But even this lonely, sad heart knows
The piano is not playing just for me
My soul’s weeping isn’t everything

Try to slide through the bars…

Passion is what I crave
Security is what I need
Self-deception is what I have
Why won’t they just leave me be?

So much pain…

Dance full circle
Come to face the truth
I’m not who I should be –
This is my lie;
This is my mask;
This is my punishment,
And this is my task:
I will tear these illusions to shreds
I will break down my walls
I will be the hidden me
I will face the world
So everyone can see

The cage is broken
The bars are gone
The pain is still there
But freedom…
is long