To Forever Amend

Trapped in the meter, a prisoner of rhyme My spirit indicted, destroyer of time A minstrels disciple, epistle in hand The sound and the rhythm, my souls contraband New couplets my jailer, their sentences terse The key to their freedom, locked deep in the verse And serving in silence, chalk marks on the wall I listen intently, for one voice to call Awaiting its pardon, this conviction will end My words liberated —to forever amend (Villanova Pennsylvania: January, 2017)