Not Trapped

She stained herself with art

You can’t erase the mark

Petals perpetually falling

Words on repeat in her head

She smiled through tears

“I marked myself”.


At last she tired of tears 

Gloomy Mondays between bars

Opening the lockless doors

She danced across the asphalt

Arms flailing through gasps, 

“I’ll be okay.”


She settled into a solitary routine

Drives through windy roads

Dates with her stack of books

Puke drafts bearing her heart 

Then one night, the weeping stopped.

“Good night.”


She was free in body and heart

Still so young, so much life unread

Opened her home to a feline companion

Stroking her fur, she whispered,

“I’m okay.”