STEEL GRAY

inside the bars

Gray walls stretch exhaustively

in darkness spotlights bound like lightening

searching, hunting, probing, pursuing in silence

until…a shadow appears, then a human

deafening sounds, clamor, shrill, blink

too late

the target’s shadow fades in the black

no one knows by what method

someone slinky and smart

 

Gray slats of steel with sweat, filth, and shrieks

cell doors hammer with the sun and the moon

until…lights out

still there is no repose

echoes of nocturnal muttering

the tempo of dawn to elude

flee the steel gray walls

hearts beat fast, keep looking back, low to the earth

sprint, hasten, drive, tear as far as the horizon

 

 

Author's Note

photo by alamy.com

Reviews

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful work. You bring this to life.

[Betty Hermelee]

thank you Thomas for a fine review🌷
Warmly, B😊

[DIVYA]

Gray slats of steel and the cell doors ensure there is no chance of escape, ever. I hear evil mutterings, crazy shrieks and it is certainly not a happy place. There is no hope for those behind those steel bars. The only way to flee that prison is by giving the mind and soul a pair of wings. This poem evokes deep thought...I value my freedom so much this moment.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you dear Divya... your review is powerful and well expressed..
Warmly, B

[Mauricio Montoya]

Wow, Betty, where you from, I'm from Oakland Ca, a ghetto but chose to escape my dream of poetry, but I've read your piece, but all can say its insightful, Betty I enjoy your work here this one right that will never be good because we been doing this throughout history, but you got right, the inside of wanting to be free.
Thank you for sharing.

[Betty Hermelee]

Hi Mauricio
Yes! and wanting to escape from prison...unfortunately they got caught
Thank you for your kind review...
Warmly, B

[Mauricio Montoya]

You, jail is not fun no ur in there with men like you and how you handle yourself forget the smell deside not a good place, good write.

[Betty Hermelee]

you are very welcome!
Warmly, B😊

[Mauricio Montoya]

Thank you very much

[Vol]

Betty,
Remember in the seventies when the world economy was drowning and Hollywood's response was disaster movies? Today it is not the economy, our threat is cultural and much more subtle. Western civilization has been invaded by strange people carrying strange philosophies, religions and morals from worlds unlike our own. And they'll put you in a steel gray jail if you complain enough.
Vol

[Betty Hermelee]

Totally correct...and look whats happening in L.A.... turning into a circus for nothing, just power of the king! Thanks for your astute comment!
Warmly, B

[Ken e Bujold]

Gray walls, bound like lightening ... fantastic imagery B. A stirring poem, clarion call to the senses, to what dark demons seem to be running amok in our world these days

hope all well
Ken

[Betty Hermelee]

thank you dear Ken, yes when i see a movie about escapees and those who facilitate, it’s very raw and frightening….i love your review!
warmly, B🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

[Lorry]

The moment of realisation that the caged animal has no escape, as the cold steel grey shrinks and shrinks until most of your humanity is gone.
Funny how you never mentioned it but I felt the rain pounding around your words. Well, maybe not funny, more expected than anything else.

[Betty Hermelee]

a very dark scene ……always escape at night…and always get caught…don’t they learn from others? thank you dear friend🌷🌷🌷
Warmly, B

[Pete]

wow, ouch. no end in sight, i can feel the cold isolation, maybe too well as just the thoughts scare me. not a place i want to be. quick, someone get me out of here.

[Betty Hermelee]

Dear Pete
Thank you so much for your”ouch” review, it is quite sinister….
My mind is warped! I😎
Warmly
B🎉

[Buddhistboy73]

An interesting slant on "life behind bars" here......
Kinda like a mini-movie where you can imagine the inmates climbing the walls while the guard patrol the corridors...

I liked the final two lines:

hearts beat fast, keep looking back, low to the earth
sprint, hasten, drive, tear as far as the horizon

Get the hell out of there!!

BB73

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you for your fine review
Warmly
B🌸

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I am reminded of those ten inmates who escaped from prison this past week...I think there are still two on the loose....I think it was in Arkansas.

You capture a seriously dramatic moment here.
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

thanks J for a thoughtful review, spot on..l
Warmly, B