Field of Vision

her arms had waisted away

her hands were cuffed

shackles incised her wrists

her eyes weren’t motionless

but all she could see was a wall

and she felt like an infernal image

of rage damned water welling up

with no release for tears 

and solid incarceration


all she had done was to think

share her thoughts of reason

with valid precision and rational logic

had peacefully presented emotion

and felt she had been doing no harm

not an ounce of corruption

but the scales of injustice weighed

heavily and not in her favour


they had not blindfolded her

to never leave any doubt 

that she would be able to see

the indisputable claim of the straight jacket

which covered her naked torso


her hair by now long and unkempt

nails like claws unable to reach

the foul wounds dug into her skin

infested by vermin and vile contempt


her gaze had turned inward

on a downward spiral of defeat

but she had nothing to confess

could not betray anyone

had she wanted to do so

and nevertheless she was grateful

that she knew nothing to part with


ironically she was in full control

of being completely out of control

a scrawny residue of former pride


she was way past hunger

the last scraps of fat had vanished

and yet so far she was a survivor

although confusion was taking a toll

her brain was wired into meshed pulp

until finally she was so thin

that she could move her delicate forearms

maybe her captors were not so clever after all


at first and at last she was able to turn

and glimpse one ray of hope through

a window with no hinges attached

and a new field of vision appeared

on the periphery central to her escape


she slipped the fetters

and knew that looking out for the truth

had been worth the wait

as she disappeared without trace


04th August 2021

Imagism Poetry Contest

Sponsor Emile Pinet
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace