To hide behind a solid barrier,
to fade into the shadows.
To seek the comfort of the covers,
to crawl through comforting meadows

of stability and repetition-
possessing, overpowering.
A dictator of Life's daily manner-
frightening and towering.

An endless gasp for liberation,
freedom from the rusty shackles-
worn are they from endless grappling,
heartless mirth and hearty cackles.

The words that cluster in the throat
when fear is puppeteer-
the doll that finds no choice at all
but to appease the commandeer

and fade into the dark, ashamed,
of wretched weakening fear.

When will the shackles fall away
their screams,deafening, subside-
the shadows black, so dim, dissolve
and leave no place to hide?

Dictatorship of every move
and word and step and sound,
when will the final song be sang
of Liberty unbound?