he hid it well,
those years of hell,
tears rusting chains pulling him down,
hands stained brown,
tugged and tugged,
climbing metal rungs,
blood-crusted flesh,
cracked hope repressed—
falling
falling
falling
—night cloaking withered heart,
quietness shrieking, his soul scarred,
drowning sounds of slithering chains,
couldn't hear the stars whispering in vain,
I see you.
