Captive
In the dream – she runs, muscles pumping
the air which grows thick and impenetrable
screams for help die strangled in her throat,
producing a pathetic and muffled whimper
until finally the overwhelming relief when
awareness returns and the dream slips away
but there is a heaviness in this awakening
and the fog is slow to lift – raising her shoulders
she feels the pain as her forehead scrapes the wood
through the dark, her eyes catch the light in
stripes filtering through the slats in the boards
panic fills the tiny space while her body
struggles in vain – resisting the truth
she hears the shuffling of feet, the muffled
voices – feels the burn of her screams rising in
her throat, held silent by the tape over her mouth
she whimpers as tears burn the corners of
her eyes and she wills the dream to return
gently the nurse removes the syringe
places a bandage over the tiny drop of red
untangles her from the blankets and
silently slips out the door
