From Outside.

poking sticks between the bars
staring, vacantly amused
they don't understand this thing of ours
why it cannot be abused
I am contained within these walls
to ripen and grow bitter with age
no one hears my calls
as anything more than inert rage
I see you looking in,
from the outside of this cage. 

the day will come when
your doors rust and fall away
I'll be free then
on that unreachable day
time is my enemy 
it scratches at my skin
I owe you some enmity
that much is given
my bones grind with passage
this anger has nowhere to go
they don't get the message
they cannot know
just as the beast paces
a telltale sign of impatience
looking hungrily at hungry faces
they could never contain this
not when I was strong
they think I'll be here long
time to show them they thought wrong.

now I see you looking, tilted head
eyes glazed over, no more dread
you've grown used to it, I know that look
you've turned a page
in your life's book
I see you from outside, in that cage.