Staring, frozen in the mirror
A tired girl looks back at me--
There is strength about her figure
But her eyes no longer see.
She has talent, drive, and fire,
She has been around the world,
But her strength is quickly fading
And her flag is left unfurled.
Once she dreamt about a future—
Clear blue skies forevermore—
With freedom and with courage—
And an endless open door.
The options now weigh heavy,
Each suspected not to last.
Slowly doors begin to shut,
Slowly turning hopes to glass.
Stuck within a silent game
Where there is no escape,
Where time does not know mercy,
Where fears sprout and take shape.
Farther still she falls behind,
Grasping at a ledge too steep—
Blow by blow her fingers loosen
Hinting at eternal sleep.
That fire in her eyes is gone—
That drive now draws on endless rage—
That wisdom is just out of reach—
And blindness fashions its own cage.
She stands so strong, so resolute—
I stand and stare right back—
I wonder where she found her eyes--
On which least taken track.
I want to offer all I have,
I want to call her name--
If only my support were hers
I wouldn’t be to blame.
As far as I have ever come
And as I’ll ever go,
She follows me with darkened clouds
That hide tomorrow’s glow.
The faster that I try to run,
Away from all I fear,
The shorter that my footsteps fall
As loneliness draws near.
I want to smash at what is left
Tear down this sturdy wall,
I hate how everyone looks in
When sadness seams to fall.