Images

They see her as a tree refusing to bow to the wind.
They see her as fire unquenched by the rain.
They hear her as a calm voice amid the din.
They see her as a star unfazed by night's bane.
They think her strong, wise and tall,
They think she'll always answer the wind's call.
But they don't know that she's in a cage,
And what they see is only her image.

They see her as a mountain unwilling to succumb,
They see her as a warrior strong in battle;
They see her as a rock, whole and one;
They see her as a mariner, who never settles.
They think her a wolf, silent and alone,
They think her feet are doomed to roam.
But they don't know the wars she wages
Against herself and her images.

Her dreams call her every night,
Her thoughts transport her to another world;
Her hands, so close yet far from the light -
Her destiny is only beginning to unfurl.
Her heart is a vase with emotions overflowing,
Her eyes have tears they cannot shed:
She rides a strange course, ever rowing,
And no one knows her soul has bled.

No one knows loneliness consumes her,
No one knows her melancholy days;
No one knows she swims in deep waters;
No one knows the price she pays.
No one knows the doom she has borne,
No one can find the key to her cage,
And no one realizes that she is not her image.

But one day she will resist the brink of doom,
She will correct the wrongs that were done;
She will shine when darkness looms,
She will be the evening star and the morning sun.
One day no bars will hold her spirit,
One day she will be her own sage:
One day all doubts will be rid -
One day, she will shatter her image.