set the captive free

hard to find freedom of expression in a tumultuous world

she tried to keep it bottled within
an iron vault lined with lead
forged of fear, cast of frenzied work and ire
her shell exploded, bled ooze from every pore
flowed down every crevice cranny
onto the floor
out through the door
lapped up by alley cats and wayward dogs
as she shivered within of what remained
until the morning sun cast upon
dried and cleansed the bile, vile 
transformed to dust on sidewalk’s stone
the evening wind took up its paste
particles tiny and dense what was left
lifted up to dusk’s lost city’s air
to starlit sky, blue black void was drifted
into the nostrils air of man and beast
corrupted some, frightened some,
transparent beings saw and gathered some 
refined to light and golden waves 
reflected back to troubled soul
uplifted her to high beams outside
shared her words with those at large
transformed her corner of the globe
changed the hearts of those in corners
tight where prisons made, bars enclosed
society’s haze, iron vaulted lined with lead
forged of fear, cast of frenzied work and ire
narrow minds’ shell entrapped, exploded, 
bled ooze from every pore
flowed down every crevice cranny
onto the floor
out through the door
other lights released from beneath
a wicked basket that some men weave
to snuff out light’s life from those
who simply want to breathe and live