the prisoner

inside of me
there's someone who longs to be free
can't be kept a prisoner much longer
the passion i'm feeling is much stronger
than before.
can't take much more
of being unhappy.
i want to live
i want to breathe
but something restrains me.
maybe insecurities
are what's keeping me
from being the real me.
i want to take off the mask
show you my soul
but maybe you'll laugh
so i can't risk that.
maybe people like the mask
more than they would like me.
maybe this prisoner inside of me
will never be free.

shauna k.
� 1990