Grace enclosed by prison walls
with a brightness few may see
when the stones reflect back
the light doomed to remain within
where two trials are endured
before a rescue may occur
these I’ll share as a jail
binding tight the struggling soul

shackles with the lack of length
to engage bless beauty’s realm
denial says it’s not so
another try refutes the hope
nothing ventured is the same
when the outcome disappoints
contradiction of faith’s dream
that loveliness is at hand

these are embraced as second skin
soon the armor wraps around
first too heavy to walk upright
then embraced as consequence
protection was the old purpose
enclosing pain within cold steel
now like a mummy the binds pull
with a life gladly denied

from the outside comes a call
fingers working against the straps
removing stones in the walls
wanting to see what’s inside
now alien in the hole of time
too long submerged in the well
I hope the barrier may be dropped
as the shackles fall to the ground.

© 2017. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20171021.