Captive Light

Beaten down, she lies in her cage. 

Life a prison, 

and love her captor. 

Yet her spirit remains unbroken. 

For even as she lay alone, 

chained in a cell of her own making, 

from deep within, a presence stirred. 

Hope and strength, long held silent  

by foolish, youthful choices, 

began at last to grow again.  

Now she is ready. 

Then a flame, thought long extinguished, 

flickers and begins to burn. 

Love and passion, 

strength and healing 

are there to guide her. 

One last chain, the fear of failure, 

is all that holds her back. 

She must decide. Only she can break it. 

But then, she heard a shuffling step 

and the faintest clinking of chains. 

Her spirit wavered as fear crept in 

halting her flight to freedom. 

Trembling, she slowly turns, 

through tears she sees her captor. 

He stood there waiting, ready with promise 

of all she ever wanted. 

But no longer fooled, 

she sees the chains, 

he tries so hard to hide. 

The loss of hope, of freedom, of love, 

his lies had cost her dearly. 

She would not allow it again. 

He begs and pleads for her to stay, 

so desperate not to lose her. 

He does not know it’s far too late, 

he can no longer cage her. 

A single glance, her light bursts forth 

ready to defend her. 

Prison, cage, chains, and captor 

all buried beneath its fury. 

When all is calm, she stands alone, 

safe above that shattered cage. 

Her heart now filled with light and warmth 

she simply whispers, thank you.