Cut the Strings and Make me Free
By Himmut Chatha
May 2021
The curtains open as you whisper lines into my ears to repeat to a nonexistent crowd. Do you want to hear those words for your own sake? Or do you want me to hear them so I writhe in agony at statements that I never wanted to come out of my mouth.
You say we dance across fields of flowers but I dance just to avoid stepping on the eggshells you have left in your wake.
You dance to show your love by wrapping me in your arms, but I dance to avoid the ropes you try to place on me to make me your mindless marionette doll.
I spin farther and farther away finally free. My wings unfurl as I take to the skies. The sky is forgiving and loving as I soar with those as free as me.
You yell from the perch you’re one and let the peaceful wind get tainted with your disastrous words. I manage to pay no mind, but once I turn back you plague my life with fear.
Three words is all that you utter and I come floating back to you. I jump into your arms and allow the strings to be attached. My mouth moves on its own as it returns your message in full.
Inspiration
First Time Writing This Kind of Poem
I first started out with the line "You say we dance across fields of flowers but I dance just to avoid stepping on the eggshells you have left in your wake." I started writing the rest from there. I believe that this poem would still work with the one line I described earlier, but I wanted to work with different and less lighthearted topics first. I think it turned out good, but I think we all can agree I need more practice.
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