Liberation

Staring out the window
to the glorious outside
wishing I could play
with the other kids in the wagon
pulled by a shaggy dog
and fueled by childish giggling screams.

within are screams
that should shatter the window
but instead I whimper like a dog
while the sun burns outside.
the cardinal red wagon
sings for me to come play

Doctor says I can’t play
with the children whose screams
fill my ears. the wagon
drags my willing eyes to the window
fogged by my raspy breaths blurring the outside
world as the captured dog

tries to sprint away to chase another dog
with jealous eyes I watch the children at play
I belong outside
stomping the sidewalk, full of liberating screams
that unlock the window
flying in my very own wagon.

I wish for a tiger orange wagon
pulled by a mammoth dog
that will smash the window
and make a world where I can play
and surrender my screams
I will flourish with the weeds outside.

I glance again outside
watching the smiling children in the wagon
and listen to their gleeful screams
I noticed the tethered dog
who is tied while the kids play
he too watches through a window.

I withdraw from the window, unable to face the outside
and retreat to my dream where I am not a dog attached to a wagon
I am a child who can play and scream