In my mind
a glorious wild creature
wrenched from its native haunts
resigned to the placebo
lonely listless lost beyond caring
is caged
In my mind’s cage
are one hundred leaping chimpanzees
imitating you
cheeky clever clones
doing what is expected
amusing you, scaring you
deadpan eyes
mocking you
What do you see?
What do I ?
In my minds cage
is a butterfly enclosure
violent and delicate
luminous heat colour gentle exotic
beautiful beyond expectation
butterfly wings so soft
they drift tremble tease
in and around you
sporadically startle you with their nearness
hover on your shoulder
hold your breath
In my minds cage
pace one thousand restless tigers
angry prowling watchful waiting
when you least expect it
glimpse an escape route
ruthless pounce bowl you over
fleeting rush to freedom
speed agility grace ferocity
command you take notice
listen to the roar
In my minds cage
I still seek a whiteboard
wash away the wearisome
imprisoned, ineffectual being
the chimpanzee human fool
the blinding, quavering butterfly enclosure
the tigers’ dubious arousal and flight
the brilliant imaginings, the murky nightmares
the words twitchily hammering
pleading to be made sense of
the trillion
vexing voices that never sleep
in my minds cage
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