That lithe panther pranced
behind the iron of cage
had been hungry for days
and knew not when the rotten
carrion will come her way.

Her eyes sparkled in frustration
her lean shapely stomach bounced
in a mealy and feedy anticipation

her muscles spasmed in hunger ache

rib cage throbbed in outrageous rage.

She wanted to bounce and grab

at one of the guys who came caring for the swab,

shear him to shards and let the dinner start

but she knew the result and outcome

her vent anger would be met by pain and punishment.

How does it feel to be caged

and depend on others for survival,

only she knew and could not express

I watched her close and good

because that is exactly where I stood.

I related my life to a cage

where my dreams and aims were stifled and stymied

what I sought to do was maimed and killed

and what  I never liked was slammed into me

in my daily grime like a bloody spike.

My aspirations breathe barely as they asphyxiate

my world is not what it ought to be

this is artificial and made and not my bade

the smoky future is mysterious

driving me insane and mad.

where are those greens and blues

and the water expanse where birds flew

where are those verdant trees and valleys mighty

where I may roam like a panther free,

no ideam no idea it's all black as night.

where are they?

    where ..where exactly

        where ,do point the finger please!

I shuffle uneasy and look awake 

my eyes are wide and mascara just spread

I think it's a tear that's journeying down

by all that I saw and spake

do you hold the key to this cage

where I seem to endlessly age.

Do you hold the key?

                     Please open up and let me be!