The walls caved in
and the glassy eyes vacant
saw things few could understand

Walking miles between fences closing
both inside and out
barbed wire dreams of no escape
desolate slow time
wasting away in wonder
at a blade of grass
a distant ghost in a strange dream
and smiling at god knows what

each one was happy
in that cage
where the mind was free
body trapped
Death was in no hurry
to claim them yet.

We all live in asylums.

© Marshall Gass. All rights reserved.