google image
His every cell remembers
climbing trees
and running through the grass.
Fourteen years in chains,
and legs that no longer work.
But still, a loving spirit.
abc.net.au
She has never known
anything but bars
under her feet.
opendoorgroup.org
The worst captivity of all:
a spirit too beaten down
to exit the open door.
for Susan's prompt at Mid Week Motif : Captivity
Hello Sherry,
ReplyDeleteNo one suffers more than animals as they lack the speech required to portray pain and suffering.. the misery of being captive!
Great poem! xoxo
Great poem Sherry, the open door so many can identify, we have the freedom to venture out but held captive by our own vises.
ReplyDeleteThere is a sensitive quietude that can be deafening in its condemnation....this poem evokes such emotion, Sherry. The images brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes ...Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI would not survive. How do they do it? And the inability to exit when the door is open?? Fear of freedom is internalized oppresion. This poem hurts!
ReplyDeleteIt's been almost a year since I read any poetry, but clicking the link to your blog made me smile. The poem made me cry... But it's not bad tears, although the topic is horrific, it's... This will be long, but I read an account on FB yesterday of a woman in the US who works with dog rescues and who'd visited a dog auction with the intention of rescuing as many from a life in the puppy mills as she could. I am an animal lover and have a wonderful dog of my own, and in Sweden our views on pets and husbandry (is that the right word?) of any kind seems to be very different to... Well, almost anywhere else it would seem. Anyway, this story of the auction made me cry so hard. The thought of those poor souls and the conditions they live in. Not just dogs, but all sorts of... Sorry, I go on for too long. Anyway, I loved this. And as you can see it really made me think of things I'm passionate about. (Sorry for going on so!)
ReplyDeleteAnimals....yes, we know, but how we like to take care about them...I heard in the future all animals will be free! ~ The last one - how's true! It's scary to go free after being captivated behind the door...~ Ah, Sherry, you have eye and heart for noticing struggle and the pen to write about it! Thank you! x
ReplyDeleteUghh I can't even respond because there is sooo much there.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful call to freedom Sherry
you are indeed their voice, Sherry. so powerfully and delicately written. the last part of the poem is scary - what is freedom after all if you will be caught once again?
ReplyDelete.The last stanza is brilliant. It refers, I think, to people who have been so crushed by others they develop anxiety and become agraphobic. We are indeed a very cruel species, and the only reason we are not completely barbaric is because of Christian ethics which has underpinned western society for 2000 years However since Christian ethics are slowly being eroded a return to the jungle is imminent.Excellent poem.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very powerful poem, Sherry. I like how you draw our attention to the captivity we inflict on animals for our own sake. Great closing stanza!
ReplyDeleteHow Orwell's book "Animal Farm" parodied the inhumanity of mankind (in the Russian Revolution) but 60 years later we still have learned nothing.
ReplyDeleteWow! Such power in so few words - beautifully done, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteThe last one - well...it resonates..clearly and loudly...beautifully written xo
ReplyDeleteSo very sad what this says about humanity - still ignorant in so many ways. Your poem though, is very wise and beautiful.
ReplyDeletethe last one gave me goosebumps and reminds me of a Tagore song where a caged bird regrets its lack of strength to fly into the vast expanse when the door is open...
ReplyDeleteThis is heart wrenching, Sherry!
ReplyDeleteMy eyes well with emotion, Sherry. ♥
ReplyDeleteWow..powerful images to complement your beautiful words. Thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteSo very sad to see the dog that had spent 14 years in chains. This breaks my heart!
ReplyDeleteI love each example & those animal images are just too said ~ The ending stanza resonates with me ~ Thanks for the words of wisdom ~
ReplyDeleteWow, those last lines really came at me hard! This poem sure does pack a punch, Sherry!!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many bars and prisons around the world.. I think there are many doors we close without even knowing it.
ReplyDeleteYes the lack of choice is hard, be thinking there is no choice is far worse.
ReplyDeleteI have heard this about animals in captivity...that sometimes they won't flee even when there is an open door because they have lost that will or have learned to stay captive.
ReplyDeleteAnd there are others, who are not within bars but are still captive in their minds ..
ReplyDeleteVery sad sequence... well expressed.
ReplyDeleteas Orwell notes at the end of 1984, Winston Smith 'loved big brother'. such is the plight we impose on those less powerful... ~
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