The World Out There

The dogwood drums to the beat of the wind

upon my window.  Coaxing me to leave

this prison.  But what is out there to find

in that endless world of sorrow and grief?

I’d hope to find a vast, wide field of life,

ablaze with color, teeming with upbeat

noise; but fear I’d find alleys of dark strife,

with hidden liars preying to mislead.

Out there the leeches lurk and the vain rule

the news.  The weak are smothered by the weight

of their unanswered prayers.  They say you’ll

be free and equal but it is false bait. 

So I’ll stay here and pray the darkness doesn’t

come into my soul and steal my bosom.